SAVING PEACE

Northern Advocate, 15 August 1935, Page 10

SAVING PEACE

BRITAINS EFFORT < LEAGUE INDISPENSABLE. “ALL CONSCIOUS OF THAT.” ■ (By Aubrey L. Williams, for the “Otago Daily Times.”) LONDON, July 12. Astute Fleet Street press chiefs are reported to be selecting their correspondents for an Italo-Ethiopian war. The more sensational and less responsible sheets confidently assert variously that the campaign will open this month, next month, sometime. More reliable journals, however, are beginning to pave the way to a definite assertion of “never.”' That the issue would not be pushed to the clash of arms has long been the contention of those of my friends' in diplomatic circles whose countries adjoin Italy. Mussolini, they have steadily maintained, would secure part satisfaction of his claims, and having saved face would call off his war dogs, perhaps at the last minute. Confidence Justified. While it would be premature as yet to state that their confidence in a peaceful solution is entirely justified by the course of events, there is just a gleam of light in a situation which so recently as a week ago had nothing but pitch dark facets. If peace happily be maintained militant Fascism will not be the only institution that will thereby save face. The League of Nations will have turned another dangerous corner in its hazardous career. Praised and reviled, the League is indispensable, and in their hearts its enemies are as fully conscious of that fact as are its friends. If it has had its failures it has equally had its successes, and those in its most import- I ant sphere, the prevention of war. I And although it may not yet be claimed that the Italo-Ethiopian dispute has been settled without recourse to arms, should the shadow pass it will pass because the League exists. When Mr Eden’s mission to Rome failed the position appeared almost hopeless. Every possible avenue leading to compromise was explored, to adopt a Ramsay MacDonald cliche, but without success. “I can suggest nothing more; can you?” said the British League of Nations Minister finally to Signor Mussolini. After a minute of silence the Italian replied: “I cannot.” The conversation ended with Mussolini apparently intent on war. Alternatives Discussed. Consultations with French Ministers were equally discouraging. It is not, true, as has been stated, that alternatives such as sanctions were suggested by British representatives. For all that, it is, perhaps, a fact that the French do not like resort to the League of Nations for the settlement of extra-European questions, and they are none too keen upon adherence to the strict letter of the Covenant that the use of sanctions implies when such application would involve them in hostile economic action against Italy, their new friend. To British arguments for co-operation they replied somewhat in this fashion; “After 12 years - labour we have settled all outstanding questions with Italy. We are now in le mois de miel—the honeymoon period—and in the circumstances are unwilling to use other than honeyed phrases.” A very human argument, as can readily be admitted

Britain has negotiated with France heavily handicapped by her recent flirtation with Germany. The AngloGerman Naval Agreement appeared to France such a radical departure from the terms of the London Declaration of February 3 that British policy came under suspicion. Instead of co-oper-ation between the co-signatories here was sheer selfish opportunism on the part of Britain. How explain that away? Persistence Rewarded. A diplomat is nothing if he is not persistent, and in this case persistence has been rewarded by a return to something like the old amity. The French really do attack cardinal importance to Anglo-French-Italian cooperation, The dent in the; Stresa front has been straightened out by patient negotiation, and the reconciliation with France has been crowned by the frankly pro-French speech by Sir Samuel Hoare, the new British Minister for Foreign Affairs, made in the House of Commons yesterday. Paris whoops with delight today. - It has been claimed that the Abyssinian dispute is a “colonial question,” one lying outside the sphere of European interest. Had Abyssinia not been a member of the League it might reasonably have been so designated. But Abyssinia is a member of that body, and she became a member upon the urgent representations of Italy and France. Comedy comes upon the scene when it is recalled that the Italian delegate urged, in 1923, that Abyssinia’s request for admission was a tribute to the League, and that the tribute was of great value as coming from a distant nation which had shown remarkable tenacity ; in preserving its religious faith and its national character. Comedy Deepens. The comedy deepens when it is remembered that the British delegate expressed doubts as to the wisdom of the admission of Abyssinia, because of the Abyssinian attitude towards slavery and the arms traffic. Italy now calls for the expulsion of Abyssinia from the League as unworthy of membership, while Britain finds herself the champion of League principles on her behalf. Doubtless both Italy and France have had their memories refreshed on this point, and it has been not the least effective of the arguments used by Britain in her efforts to effect relief from a dangerous situation. A treaty executed in 1906 between Britain, France, and Italy recording agreement to maintain the political and territorial status quo in Abyssinia is to be taken as a basis in a search for a compromise. If agreement is reached and war is averted it is probable that in the process Abyssinia will pay dearly by a concession of territory and the imposition of economic privilege, but Mussolini's face will be saved, and his 100.000 troops will return home, to be a star turn in another Roman holiday. The alternatives to some such solution are almost too grave to contemplate. The wreck of the League would presumably lead to reversion to the old principle of balance of power, whose epitaph may be found in the Great War. Failure would reveal a world morally bankrupt, where the rule of the jungle alone had force. This Italo-Abyssinian affair has brought us to the edge of the. precipice. The glimpse into the depths should be salutary to all concerned.