LEAGUE POWERLESS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume VLI, Issue 3385, 23 September 1935, Page 7

LEAGUE POWERLESS

"ITALO-ABYSSINIAN WAR CERTAIN? MR DOIDGE’S ADVICE TO THE DOMINION That war between Italy and Abyssinia was inevitable was the considered opinion expressed by Mr F. W. Doidge, of Rotorua, in an address to the Matamata Orphans Club last week. Mr Doidge said that he had left England less than six months ago, and the general belief was that war was inevitable owing to uncontrollable forces, which were enveloping Europe. European quarrels were not British quarrels, yet some politicians at Home were trying to make it so. There was not a shadow of doubt but that Italy and Abyssinia would soon be at war. lhe attempt to bring in the League Nations was sheer hypocrisy. Mussolini, with or without Geneva against Geneva, was determined to get Abyssinia.

People must realise there were only three powerful nations within the* League—Great Britain, France and Italy—and that France and Italy were natural allies, it tne League of Nations, applied sanctions there was only Great Britain to enforce them, and if Britain and Italy went to war the whole of Europe would be in flames. Italy, like Germany, must have room for expansion, but Abyssinia would be a hard nut to crack as the Abyssinians were born fighters and Mussolini would be pursuing a phantom army. New Zealand’s Danger However, for New Zealand the danger was not in Abyssinia but in Europe, where uncontrollable military and economic forces were at work. New Zealanders were prone to study only domestic problems, and of the first dozen men met in the street were asked about tne Treaty of Locarno, it would most likely be found they couldnot answer the question. Yet no treaty was fraught with such immense consequences. Under this treaty Britain was pledged to go to the assis tance of either France or Germany if one attacked the other, but if'any one attacked Britain none would go to her aid. Statesmen at Home, were opposed to sounding the tocsin emphasised the speaker, but m New Zealand that great man, Sir Andrew■ Russel . had warned the country that if Br tain did not get out of this treaty then she was heading straight tor wa? Owing to its sacrifice in the Great War New Zealand had every right to raise its voice now. Much had been said of “collec-, tive security.” but it was collective security” which had led Britain into the last war. Behind all the

present trouble was the determination of France to keep Germany in subjection. The Treaty of was not a just treaty; Jt had been forced on Germany at the the bayonet, and it was unthinkable | that such a great nation could bei kept In subiectinn. Germany was, to day faced with war or economic| starvation. | New Zealand’s Problem | Since the Great War all of the na-j tions had been pledged to disarmament, vet not one was canwing this] out. There was no possible reason | involved in Furoneon intrigues. Mri Baldwin had stated recently that a walk through Europe was like a’ walk through the madhouse, and. why should New Zealanders agree j ♦n taking nart in such snuab-j bles. j Not one Dnmirdon Kad sixmpd thJ Treatv of It vms unthinkable that Britain should be at war| and the Dominion* at peace, would be the pud of the Y’nnire. b”t nevertheless the Dominion should; face the problem. | Fight on Defensive Only | Mr Forbes and Mr Coates had been given information while at' Home which they, of course, could; not divulge, but it was open for the public to tell them its vmws. It, Britain was attacked there would b* < no Question but that New Zealand, would supply the last man and the last shilling but the public should, state it would be no party to any. other war. ; Lord Bledisloe had stated that; New Zealand Jagged behind tlm other Dominions in that it .had failed to take its rightful place—that it Blacked a sense of nationhood. It was time people realised that fact, and this was one of the occasions when New Zealand could speak with no uncertain voice, saying it would raßv around Britain if Britain was in danger, but that it desired to be left out of all entanglements. If Britain must have an allv then let it be America. The British Empire and America could control the world as they controlled the raw materials of the world.