The Hawera Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1935. BRITAIN’S NEW FOREIGN SECRETARY.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 23 December 1935, Page 6

The Hawera Star

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1935. BRITAIN’S NEW FOREIGN SECRETARY.

'delivered every evening by S o’clock in Hawera. Manaia, Kaupokonui, Otakeho, Oeo, Piharua, Opunake. Eltham, RgaeroMangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Te Kiri, Mahoe. Lowgarth, Manutahi, Kakaramea. Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Wbenuakura, Waver ley, Mokoia, Whakamara. Ohangai. Meremere, JPraeer Hoad and A rarata

The choice of Mr. Anthony Eden as Foreign Secretary of Great Britain is an appointment which will be learned with interest by all League nations and will, be interpreted by them as an indication of Britain’s determination to stand by the League and its sanctions policy. Italy will place her own interpretation upon this, official act of the British Government’s. That country regards Mr Eden as definitely anti-Italian, despite the fact that.the Minister, in all his negotiations at Geneva, made it abundantly clear that Britain had no individual quai'rel with Italy and would not take isolated action against her. It was his exposition of the case for sanctions which rallied half a hundred nations to make common cause, on paper at least, against Italy. Mussolini has taught his people very thoroughly that those who are not with them are against them and Italy is thoroughly imbued with the carefully nurtured impression that Bi’itain is her arch-enemy and Mr. Eden the leader and instigator of League opposition to the Mitssolini plan of conquest. The next steps to be taken m this international dispute are clouded in uncertainty. The League met to hear the burial service of the famous “peace plan” and dissolved without carrying the sanctions issue any further. There will be no further meetings at Geneva till early in January. In the meantime the general public does not know where the League of Nations stands in respect of Italy. Are sanctions to be dropped and Mussolini to continue on his way unmolested? If so, what of all the fine speeches that, have been made condemning the unprovoked assault on Ethiopia? Though the League has gone into recess with these important questions unanswered, it can be safely assumed that diplomatic channels of communications between the League nations will not be closed. Britain has already sounded ‘Turkey, Yugoslavia, Greece and Roiimania as to where those countries would stand in the event of an attack on Britain in the Mediterranean; and it is safe to guess that Britain will he seeking definite assurances that other nations will give more than lip-service to the sanction plan. - If sufficient support be forthcoming the application of full sanctions will be announced at the next meeting at Geneva. Much depends, at this juncture, on France. M. Laval has been trying desperately to remain on friendly terms with Italy and still retain for France her prestige as a League Power. But it is confidently anticipated that he will be forced into retirement. Should he be succeeded by M. Herriot, France may be conceivably swung over to full participation with the League in responsibility for any consequences from the application of sanctions. Whether Mussolini would be sufficiently confident in his own powers to seize as an excuse for war a sanc-tions-ediet. that was backed up by Britain, France and Russia, in addition to the smaller Powers, would lie the next question awaiting answer. A great deal depends upon what happens in France before the next meeting of the League early next month.