MUSSOLINI'S LATEST GESTURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 12 October 1926, Page 4

MUSSOLINI'S LATEST GESTURE

WHAT ill. Hit' rumours from Italy mean? Do I hey mean thai Signor Mus solini (.'Oiitomplalos war? Does ho pro pose lo disregard the obligations impos. ci! liv ihf League of Nations' Covenant, or is his assumption of the I'ominainl of

"Itliit-k Shirt s" mil < ly ii theatrical gesi ni<- which is made I" impress (lit: Jia lions of Europe with, the lint New Italy?

Tin' provisions of the League's Covenanl an- drawn up in such clear language Ihal llit'.v rannol he easily misnnderstood. Their lenor and import are clearly againsl such predatory actions as (host' which Signor Mussolini is credited with (fnlemplnlirig. V a dispute arises between two nations members of the League, it is laid down that such dispute shall lie submitted to arbitra-

tion. If a nation member of the League has a- dispute with a nation non-member of the League, it. is provided that the latter nation shall be invited "to accept the obligations of membership of the League for the purposes of such dispute" ; bnt if it, refuses to accept that invitation and shall resort to war against a member of the League. then the League shall put into operation all the powers which it possesses against the offending nation.

Apparently the League does no! con template the case of a nation which is a member of the League making war aggressively against a nation which is not a member of the League. But there is, however, an Article (No. 11) of the Covenant which declares it "to be the friendly right of each member of the League to bring to the. attention of Ihe Assembly or of the Council any circumstance whatever affecting international relations which threatens to disturb international peace. .. ." The

inference must be that upon receiving vord of a breach of the peace contemplated by a member of the League upOf. a non-member, the Council of the Leagee would immediately take such steps as would prevent aggression: Therefore. if there should be any truth in the rumour 'hat Signor Mussolini contemplates regressive ncliou against Turkey. it would seem that the Council of the League is armed with powers which could prevent such aggression being effective. The League has never been brought face fo face with such a case, and it is therefore impossible to foretell what action it would take in such circumstances. But it would seem that it has power fo interfere in practically any dispute which in likely to lead to war. Two questions arise:—Would the League use the powers with which if is armed fo prevent war between two such countries as Italy and Turkey? If It did so use its powers, would Signor Mussolini defy the League or submit to its dictation? As has been shown, provision exists for Turkey to crave protection of the League, though she is not a member of it. Or course, as yet there i- nothing of which she could complain i:i Italy's conduct. There is no harm done to anybody by Signer Mussolini's assumption of the command of the Fas cist militia. He created it, and naturally has the right to command it. Only if he uses that militia aggressively out side his country, will Italy's duty to the League and the League's power to impose peace be tested.