SANCTIONS ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 18

SANCTIONS ISSUE

MR. W. M. HUGHES' BOOK THE HAZARD OF WAR SOME ALARMIST PASSAGES Perusal of Mr. W. M. Hughes' "Australia and War To-day," a copy of which camo to hand by yestorday's mail, supports the reason Riven by tlio Primo Minister of Australia, Mr. J. A. Lyons, for asking him to resign his portfolio of Health jn the Federal Cabinet. Mr. Hughes clearly differs from his colleagues upon the probable effect of economic sanctions against Italy. Tito general purpose of the book, which lias been published in Sydney by Angus and Robertson, probably has tlio hearty support of tho Commonwealth Government, though its alarmist tone may be deprecated. The purpose is, in tho author's words, "to arouse the people of Australia to a realisation of tho danger to which the country is exposed through tho utter inadequacy of its defences." Elsewhere ho writes: —"When all tho world is armed, Austral,a dare not go unarmed. Wo ir.ust bo up and doing without a moment's delay. . . No country is at once more vulnerable and more liable to bo attacked. In a world armed to tho teeth or feverishly increasing its armaments, Australia's defences aro at a lower ebb than at any time during the last quarter of a century. . . . Unless we aro to stand like sheep before tho butcher wo must, without delay, create such defence forces as will make an attack upon Australia a venture so hazardous that ncno will attempt it." The League and Armed Force

Mr. Hughes devotes his earlier chapters to showing, with the aid of many illustrations from history, that defence is an essential part of national policy, that security is the condition precedent to peace, and that tho rule of <• law rests on force.

After paying a generous tribute to tho League of. Nations for labouring diligently to promoto tho well-being of the peoples of the world and for pointing the way to peace. Mr. Hughes asserts that armed force is essential to its effective use as an instrument to prevent war. He quotes a speech of President Wilson at Versailles to show that the League was conceived with this in mind. For lack of force, he contends, the League has not been able to do the very thing for which it was brought into existence. He draws the inference that no nation is justified today in believing that tho League's existence is even a partial substitute for effective measures of defence. Sanctions "An Empty Gesture"

Holding such views, Mr. Hughes naturally sees no value in moral suasion or in economic sanctions such as are now being applied to Italy. "All effective sanctions must be supported by adequate force," he writes in the passage to which Mr. Lyons has objected. "F.conomic sanctions which do not materially hamper Italy's warlike operations are not likely to deter her from aggression. If, on tho other hand, sanctions that cut off her supplies of food and raw materials and threaten her line of communication aro applied, she will use every means at her disposal to compel tlio nations responsible to abandon 'them. In tho highlystrung mental state of tho Italian people this means resort to force." After emphasising Italy's naval and air -strength in the Mediterranean, he concludes: —"Economic sanctions are therefore either an empty gesture, or war."

In his final chapter, evidently written later than the bulk of tho book, and very recently, Mr. Hughes again asserts that the League is impotent. " In this world none save the strong is safe from attack. Certainly the League cannot save us. The League is powerless—that is the great outstanding fact. It talks; it appeals; it supplicates; it negotiates; but it cannot act. And yet, in the world of to-day, if peace is to be preserved, action to restrain nggiession must not only bo certain, but immediate." Blockade Means War

Further on he pours scorn upon the League's resolution to apply sanctions. " Unless Italy bows to the decision of the League, these or any other sanctions imposed by the League can only be effective to the extent that they are backed by armed force. Assuming that Italy decides to persist in her thrust into Abyssinia, she is not likely to tamely submit to an economic blockade, but will endeavour to break through it. This, of course, means war. " It is reported that 50 nations supported the motion which involves the imposition of sanctions. The part the great majority of these will play in the terrible conflict that may ensue is negligible. Wo are told that Haiti and Mexico are behind the League and will fulfil their obligations under the Covenant. But Mussolini will lose no sleep over that. The Brunt Upon Britain " Nor will he be greatly perturbed at M. Motta's rhetorical declaration that Switzerland will fulfil her obligations—so far as. her policy of 'neutrality' permits. Neutrality! In theso unsettled days tho word is moro blessed than Mesopotamia! No doubt many others of tho noble band that valiantly stood in the Assembly of the Lengtie. for the cause of right will find reasons for their absenco from the arena of conflict. " Wo must rid ourselves of all illusions. With tho exception of Franco and Russia, tho support that all the nations can, or will, give to Britain to enforce sanctions is not worth, a snap of the fingers. If Italy is restrained, it will be due to Britain's determined stand. And if the League rehabilitates itself, it will be due to Britain's example and Britain's efforts. What will come out of all this no man can foresee. But one thing is certain —neither the maintenance of world peace nor safety from aggression can bo assured without adequate armed force. ... If Britain's naval forces were to-day at their preLeaguo strength, Italy would not have attempted to attack Abyssinia or to disturb the peace of tho world."