The Hawera Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1935. MENACE TO PEACE.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 22 August 1935, Page 4

The Hawera Star

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1935. MENACE TO PEACE.

Delivered every evening o.v & *» <= loeis lu Hawera, Manaia, Kaupokouui, Otakeho. Oeo. Pihaina, Opunake. Eltkam. Ngaere Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna. TeKiti. Mahoe, bawgarth. Manutahi, mea, Alton. Hurleyville. Patea, Wbenua kura, Waverley, Mokoia, WhakamaraOhangal. Meremere. Eraser Road and Ararata

Even without Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s statement that the international situation is more grave than any which has arisen since 1914, the public must by now be aware that the Italian-Abyssinian dispute has grown into something of very much grave portent than an “Abyssinian affair.” The issue is rapidly settling itself as one between Britain and Italy—and the League. It is obvious that the very existence of the League is endangered and with its collapse will disappear the only substitute which modern civilisation has been able to find for isolated diplomacy, the playing off of one nation against the other and war. If the Powers do not stand to their undertaking under the League Covenant the League will be surely wrecked, for ho nation, no matter how desirous of preserving the League framework, will dare to trust to it for security against aggression. Whether the signatories will adhere to' the agreement depends first upon Britain; but Britain’s adherence to the covenant obligations is no guarantee that the others will stand by their undertaking. Theoretically the League can shorten any war that it fails to avoid entirely by withholding assistance from the aggressor and, if need be, combining against the aggressor. But in actual practice it is realised that there is a very good chance of Britain being left to act alone if she insist on the fulfilment of the covenant obligations. Fear of Germany will be one of the factors holding France back from whole-hearted action against Italy in support of the covenant. To-day’s cable news indicates that the British Cabinet meeting called for to-morrow is fraught with the gravest possibilities for Britain’s domestic affairs as well as for the well-being of the world at large.