RECOGNITION OF CONQUEST

Southland Times, Issue 23675, 25 November 1938, Page 6

RECOGNITION OF CONQUEST

DOMINION ATTITUDE TO ABYSSINIA NO CONSIDERATION YET BY GOVERNMENT Italy’s conquest of Abyssinia has not yet been recognized by the New Zealand Government. The announcement last week by Mr J. A. Lyons (Prime Minister of Australia) that the Commonwealth Government had given recognition leaves New Zealand as the only part of the British Empire which has not officially recognized the conquest. „ “We have not considered it at all, said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in a telephone interview with The Press, Christchurch. “We have had a lot of other things to deal with and we have not got to that yet.” The interviewer asked Mr Savage if the Government was following its earlier attitude on the question of Italy’s conquest of Abyssinia. “I am not saying anything at this stage,” Mr Savage replied. Recognition of the conquest was sought from the Dominions early this year by the British Government, and recognition was withheld at the time because, it was understood, of the attitude of both the New Zealand and Australian Governments. ATTITUDE BEFORE LEAGUE The stand of the New Zealand Gov- 1 ernment against recognition of the conquest was expressed by the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) in the Abyssinian debate at the League Council in May, when New Zealand vigorously opposed Lord Halifax’s request for recognition. “This return to the laws of- the jungle is a direct denial of the League’s principles and another retreat from the principles of collective security,” Mr Jordan said then. “New Zealand stands by non-recognition of the conquest, and she considers it most necessary that the Covenant remain in force. She deplores- anything weakening it. There is no justification for granting individual States a choice on this question. “It is a sign of some progress that the monarch of an aggrieved country can state his case and be heard by the representatives of more. fortunate countries., [Haile Selassie had appeared before the Council.] We trust this spirit will grow until international relations can be discussed at the table without recourse to the killing of each other by men bearing no ill-will against each other. '■ “The New Zealand Government is of the opinion that there is nd. material fault with the Covenant as it stands, the fault lying in the failure to apply it New Zealand believes the League should not divest itself of responsibility or coridone aggression. If recognition is accorded, it should be by a general resolution of the League', for surely the League was formed for the purpose of safeguarding the independence of States. “The tragedy of the retreat from collective security is today’s compromise between leaving the League and remaining loyal to the Covenant.” BRITAIN’S EXPLANATION When the attitude of New Zealand was discussed a week later in the House of Commons—a Labour member remarking that the British Government found itself in short, sharp conflict with one of the Dominions, New Zealand being forced, on principle, to challenge the Mother Country—Sir John Simon (Chancellor of the Exchequer) said 20 States had recognized Italian sovereignty over Abyssinia before Lord Halifax went to Geiieva. Britain consequently had the right, according to her League duties, to recognize the conquest or otherwise.