BRITAIN'S LEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 13

BRITAIN'S LEAD

COLLECTIVE SECURITY GERMAN NEWSPAPER'S PRAISE GREAT INFLUENCE FOR PEACE POSSIBLE CLASH WITH ITALY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrieht (Received November 6, 5.45 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON, Nov. 6 The Berlin correspondent of the Times says that the Allgemeine Zeitung in an article on collective security says: "After a month's war in Abyssinia, France has lost her leadership of the League of Nations and Britain has assumed it. France has aroused the suspicions of the small countries, but Britain understood how to secure respect as the protector of the small nations and the coloured races. " The world again marvels at the methodical thoroughness, energy and success of British authority. The Anglo-German naval agreement eliminated the North Sea as the danger zone, which, like the British Fleet, has shifted to the Mediterranean. " The danger of France declaring herself neutral in the event of a clash between Britain and Italy has now been dispelled. "Britain has the French Mediterranean ports at her disposal as bases, and need not worry about the possible loss of Malta. In four weeks Britain has removed the danger of a Latin Mediterranean alliance disturbing Europe s equilibrium. Her diplomats worked as hard as the Italian navvies at Adigrat, but they did not need to sweat over it. " Moreover, Britain can credit herself with the restoration of the Greek monarchy. The Mediterranean organisation is in firm hands. Seldom was a great political aim so cheaply achieved. It has all been done in the name of collectivism, which Britain means sincerely. " An important section of German opinion, however, considers that if and when Italy is brought to book it will be by a short, sharp, armed clash with Britain, not by a long distance blockade under the League's banner. " Great Britain, conscious of this, will abandon collectivism in favour of an Anglo-German agreement of much wider scope than the naval agreement."