ITALY AT GENEVA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 12

ITALY AT GENEVA

The proceedings of the League Council are not going altogether to Signor Mussolini's liking. To the case presented by his spokesman, Baron Aloisi, the Council has replied in a resolution of blame for Italy. This has not been so strongly worded as the Abyssinian delegate wished, but there is no mistaking its reiterated condemnation of the Italian campaign as a wanton breach of the Covenant. What is still more to the point at present, it reaffirms the Council's allegiance to the principle of sanctions. When the report of these proceedings is read there may be wonder at Italy's participation in them. Signor Mussolini has not scrupled, although Italy is still in membership, to speak slightingly of the League. Why, then, does he not announce Italy's withdrawal from it? With provocation much less, Japan, Germany, Brazil and others have ceased to take part in its fundamental task; yet Italy, time and aga*n declared by it to have acted unworthily and merited penalising discipline, remains in membership and uses, whenever so minded, the privileges of that status. Signor Mussolini alternately affects to despise the League and craves its goodwill. Ths fact of the matter is he knows that Italy is fighting a war on two fronts—in Abyssinia and at Geneva. He may be able to defeat Abyssinia and sanctions, as has been said, in one victory over the Emperor. Yet this simultaneous success, damaging as it would be to the League, cannot end Italy's international responsibilities. Such a climax would not rid Italy, as a Power under necessity to maintain contacts in Europe, of dependence on foreign recognition there of any treaty undertakings with Abyssinia. Hence the strenuous exertions of Baron Aloisi to convince the Council that his country is in the right. The case he has presented is palpably weak, even grotesquely untrue, but its presenting argues a recognition of Italy's need to preserve, if possible, a place in the international forum; and that forum is still at Geneva. Even its destruction would not give Italy freedom of action in East Africa, and so long as it exists Signor Mussolini is under tactical necessity to make some use of it, short of admitting its unfettered right of adjudication.