SANCTIONS PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23442, 5 March 1938, Page 14

SANCTIONS PROBLEM

DIFFICULTY OF EFFICACY FAILURE WEAKENS LAW ' LONDON, Feb. 20. That the efficacy of sanctions in preventing aggressive war and other international law-breaking depends upon the co-operation of all States, without serious exception, in enforcing them is the conclusion arrived at in a book called " International Sanctions." This book was written by a group of members of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, including Sir John Fisher-Williams, Lord Lothian and Admiral Thursfield.

The only case where limited action might be efficient would be an Anglo-American agreement refusing to furnish essential minerals to an aggressor, the writers say. It is pointed out that the only three Powers self-sufficient in most war necessities, including metals are the British Empire, the United States and the Soviet.

The writers say the happenings in Central Europe are so remote that they are almost unreal to Australians. If no dominion would consider sending forces overseas without a decision of Parliament, it would presumably be impossible for a dominion to pledge itself in advance to give military support to a victim of aggression. Every failure weakens the law and helps to render it eventually futile. Those who would devise sanctions must reckon with the existence of a powerful anti-sanction-ist bloc.