LEAGUE PRESSURE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1935, Page 5

LEAGUE PRESSURE

STEADY AND INEXORABLE CONCILIATION’S FAILURE PEACE FEELERS EXPECTED BRITAIN NOT IMPRESSED British Wireless. Rugby, Oct. 28. Referring to the issue of the Order-in-Council providing for the application by Britain of the methods of pressure which members of the League have agreed to exert upon Italy in fulfilment of Article 16 of the Covenant, the Times says: “Steadily and inexorably the machinery of the League is being set in motion with purpose assured and with the certainty that it will set a limit to the present war both in time and in extent.” “The issue of the Order-in-Council marks an historical milestone,” says the Manchester Guardian. “Without anly animosity against the Italian people and without any direct interest in the war between Italy and Abyssinia the British Government accepts the unanimous decision of the League that Italy is the aggressor in defiance of her Covenant, and applies agreed measures.” With regard to economic sanctions, the application of which awaits a decision to be made at Geneva on Thursday, the Guardian remarks that by today it should be known how many other nations are ready and willing to impose them in conformity with the solemn words of their delegates at Geneva. EXAMPLE OF EMPIRE. The Guardian expresses the hope that the example of Britain and the Dominions will be useful. For the success of economic sanctions, it adds, speed and comprehensiveness are required. Peace feelers are likely to continue for some time, well-informed circles told the Associated Press. Those at present being made through M. Laval are not of a character to impress Britain, which did not communicate their outline to Abyssinia. It is further felt that they do not justify retarding the sanctions. Sir Samuel Hoare, Foreign Secretary, has decided to attend meetings of the League co-ordination committee. .When the committee reassembles its principal task will be to appoint a date for the concerted application of the proposal for a ban on imports coming from Italy. In a speech in the House of Commons test Tuesday the Foreign Secretary suggested that the period before the application of this proposal might be used for an effort to discover if a settlement by conciliation, consistent with the spirit of the Covenant and acceptable to both Italy and Ethiopia, was possible. The hopes that the diplomat!' exchanges which have been 4n progress between Rome and Paris would provide a possible basis for such effort at conciliation have had reluctantly to be abandoned, and it appears almost certain that the League Powers will have no alt''—•'five but to apply the full proof measures drawn up by the co-ordination committee. IMPORTANCE OF OCCASION. The Foreign Secretary’s decision to go due to a change of views by the British Government, but is rather an expression of their recognition of the great importance of the occasion. Sir Samuel Hoare will remain at Geneva only a few days, probably returning to London on Sunday. If the committee’s work is not concluded before Sir Samuel Hoare leaves Mr. R. A. Eden will stay for the rest of the session. In a speech at Wolverhampton, Mr. Stanley Baldwin said that in the last two or three months peace had ceased to be an academic question and had become a matter of personal reality to every man, woman. and child. The problem presented to the world was no less than this: Are the differences when they arise between nations to be solved by war or can they be solved by a process of law as used in private differences? “There could be but one answer to that,” he added. The people in Britain could not solve these grave matters by putting themselves in a state of isolation from the world. Co-operative effort for peace was not a dream; it was not quixotic but hard common sense.

Mr. Baldwin then dealt with the need for repairing deficiencies which had been showed to accrue in the defence services.

Mr. said there would be no question of large armaments or materially increased forces. The Government intended to replace the pre-war ships with modern vessels especially built to meet danger from aircraft.