FROM WORDS TO DEEDS?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 14

FROM WORDS TO DEEDS?

One comment on the present task of the Non-Intervention Committee suggests that a-certain proposal has been introduced only to provide scope for protracted talk. This sort of thing has been the bane of the whole business ever since it began. Time and again it has threatened to ruin the effort to keep the war in Spain from lighting a conflagration engulfing Europe. As fast as one such risk was checked another was encountered, and at every fresh crisis in negotiations the cause of trouble was the same-—a deliberate attempt on the part of one or more of the interested Powers to obstruct the path of action by insisting on discussion of futile or impracticable ideas. The Powers sincerely bent on doing the difficult job wisely and speedily have been at an obvious disadvantage: the essence of the task is wide co-operation, and to speak their minds bluntly on the tricks of the others would provide these with a welcome excuse for withdrawing from the committee. What should have been an honest union of purpose has thus been degraded to . a battle of wits. It is discouraging to note that the very question first raised by the opponents of reasonable methods of localising the strife is again to the fore ; they are urging that the recall of non-Spanish combatants shall operate with numerical equality on each side. Clearly this would serve the ends of those that have been most active in supplying auxiliary forces. But perhaps the conspicuous nature of this ruse will bring its defeat. Mr. Eden's chairmanship of the executive sub-committee, in the absence of its regular chairman, may impart an influence promoting decision. At least it will give Britain's Foreign Minister an opportunity to express with direct authority the resolve of his Government and to exchange precise stipulations with Italy's spokesman, Count Grandi. Something conclusively definite may result, in spite of prolonged scheming to avert thiß.