PRICE OF ITALY’S GOOD WILL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20446, 17 June 1936, Page 9

PRICE OF ITALY’S GOOD WILL

POSITIVE GESTURE DEMANDED

LIFTING OF SANCTIONS NOT ENOUGH

AWAITING OFFICIAL STATEMENTS

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 16, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, June 16. The Rome correspondent of “The Dally Telegraph” says: Semi-official circles are now declaring that the lifting of sanctions will not be enough to allow Italy to collaborate in European affairs. It is suggested that a more positive gesture is needed, namely a simultaneous reversal of the verdict of the League of Nations adjudicating Italy as the aggressor. FORECAST OF BRITISH POLICY MINISTER’S STATEMENT AWAITED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 16, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, June 16. The political correspondent of “The Morning Post" says that Mr Anthony Eden’s speech in the House of Commons on June 18, announcing the Government’s decision to propose the raising of sanctions, will follow closely the lines of Mr Neville Chamberlain's speech on June 11. Mr Eden will point out that sanctions have failed either to prevent or end the Abyssinian war, or Jo preserve the Independence of Abyssinia, and in view of this there is no logical or practical justification for maintaining them. There has been no Cabinet differences regarding this. The only hesitancy has been whether Britain should lead at Geneva or leave the initiative to the Assembly of the League of Nations. WILL ITALY TURN TO GERMANY? SEQUEL TO LIFTING OF SANCTIONS United Frees Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 17, 1.6 a.m.) LONDON, June 16 The “Sun-Herald News Agency” says: A section of the press continues to suggest grave Cabinet differences in connection with the forthcoming decision on sanctions, and that Mr Eden’s resignation is imminent. Such rumours, however, are without foundation. They are prii-iarily designed to force Mr Eden from the Cabinet, but are unlikely to succeed. When Mr Eden announces the abandonment of sanctions on June 18, he will outline Signor Mussolini's memorandum, which says that apart from accepting any diminution of Italian sovereignty in Abyssinia, the Italians are ready to meet Britain’s desires in every possible way. Assurances are given that henceforth Italy belongs territorially to the “satisfied” Powers. Il Duce pledges himself not to raise a Black army in Abyssinia, declaring that he has no further African territorial ambitions. Il Duce is also ready to conclude a Mediterranean pact with Britain and France. This will be accompanied by an agreement for the limitation of naval armaments, .which would include Greece and Turkey if they so desire. Italy is further ready to support Britain’s viewpoint for the reform of the Covenant of the League of Nations. Eyes on Germany The Italians intimate that in the event of Britain rejecting collaboration with her, she will turn to Germany. Clash of Views in England According to “The Dally Mail,” a hurried meeting of the members of the Cabinet, including Mr Eden, in the Prime Minister’s room, decided that sanctions must be dropped, and that Britain will lead the League retreat from the sanctions policy. Twenty speakers at the weekly meeting of the Conservative Members’ Committee were unanimous that sanctions must be terminated. The report that Mr R. A. Eden will resign as a result of Mr Chamberlan’s speech is officially denied. itheMGi GgF-.(eashrdlu vbgkqj SANCTIONS POLICY DEFENDED PROFESSOR WOOD’S VIEW CHANCELLOR’S FALSE REASONING PALMERSTON N., June 15. The statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Neville Chamberlain), that sanctions had failed and that the policy of the League of Nations should be modified in future, was commented upon by Professor F. L. W. Wood, Professor of History at Victoria University College, and Dominion president of the League of Nations Union, when speaking at Palmerston North. "In my opinion the statement is deplorable,” said Professor Wood, “not so much because of the practical policy affected, as because of the reason he gave. If Mr Chamberlain was correctly reported, he said the policy of sanctions had failed, and, therefore should be abandoned. “The point to my mind is that the policy of sanctions has not been tried, and, therefore, cannot be said to have failed. Sanctions have been extraordinarily effective as far as they could possibly go, but for various reasons they never have been applied in the sense they were intended to be applied. Consequently, it is wholly false reasoning to say sanctions have been tried and failed. “Mr Chamberlain said it would be necessary to confine the League to things it could accomplish, which means taking from it all hope or ambition of being able to prevent wars In future. That is a very serious thing to

say. It means we have to go back to pre-war conditions and a policy of national armaments which, throughout history, has failed to preserve peace. “I deplore what Mr Chamberlain has said, especially when it comes from a man prominent in a party whose platform supported the League. I find it more depressing as regards international affairs than anything else that has happened for many years.” Professor Wood said the League should not be judged on its failures in respect to Japan, Italy and Germany, but on its many successes in preventing other wars. He was of the firm opinion that, had there not bee- a League, Germany’s entry into the Rhineland last March would have resulted in another world conflict.