THE MEDITERRANEAN SITUATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 January 1936, Page 4

THE MEDITERRANEAN SITUATION

A WELL-KNOWN French journal has had tlie self-assurance to protest (in an open letter to King George) against the movements of the British fleet in the Mediterranean, and says, “This is almost as serious a menace to the principles of Geneva as Mussolini’s aggression in Abyssinia.” In support of his contention the apologist of the Italian Dictator invokes Article X of the League of Nations’ Covenant, which contains the following clause: The members of the League undertake to respect and preserve as against aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all members of the League. The Article then concludes by indicating clearly that in such cases of aggression the remedy is in the hands of the League’s Council, not in the hands of individual members of the League, acting on their own initiative. Can it be said that the assembling and manoeuvring of British warships in the Mediterranean is a menace to any peaceable and well-meaning Government? For a century and more a British fleet, based on Malta or Gibraltar, as the case might he, has been in the habit of manoeuvring in Mediterranean waters, hut this is the first time that objection has been made to such action. Moreover, the fleets of ali nations are free to sail in those waters. It will be remembered that a little more than fifty years ago, British and French squadrons were lying at Alexandria when Arabi’s rebellion took place, and that when the British admiral decided to bombard the forts, the French ii aval commander sailed away. It certainly is no new thing for the British Government to maintain a strong naval force in the Mediterranean Sea, but it cannot be too strongly emphasised that its presence there is in the interests of peace, and that it is a menace to no nation which is not aggressive. Then why this theatrical appeal to the King of Great Britain? Is not the entire French Navy based on its Mediterranean ports at the present time? It is not necessary to state why the British and French Governments are in accord in assembling powerful naval forces in the Mediterlancan: and it should be pointed out that they- are there for the purpose of being able to act effectually, if any attempt should be made to frustrate the policy of the League by forcible obstruction. No more need be said than that, except that it is reassuring to see that the British and French Governments are in accord in their Mediterranean policies.