The Timaru Herald MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1938 IS THE LEAGUE COVENANT BEING IGNORED?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21014, 18 April 1938, Page 6

The Timaru Herald MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1938 IS THE LEAGUE COVENANT BEING IGNORED?

Mr Chamberlain’s statement in the course of a reply to a question in the House of Commons that he was not in a position to give any information regarding the subjects of the discussion proceeding between Great Britain and Italy did not, of course, satisfy members of the Imperial Parliament who have displayed some concern lest the basis of new agreements may not accord with the principles of the Covenant of the League of Nations. For instance, the report circulated by the diplomatic correspondent of The Daily Mail, that the agreement between Great Britain and Italy would include a generous concession to Britain, namely of Abyssinian territory covering the Lake Tsana district, raised important questions. In the present disturbed state of the Sudan anil Egypt, the price Italy offers for Great Britain's recognition of the Italian conquest of Abyssinia which suggested Io Signor Mussolini that a new Roman Empire had come into existence, is most attractive. This can be understood by recalling that in diplomatic circles it is considered that the country that keeps Lake Tsana within its frontier holds the key to the Sudan and Egypt. But the question raised in the House of Commons turned not on the value of the prize Italy is prepared to offer as the price of Great Britain’s recognition of Abyssinia as part of the new Roman Empire, but Italy’s right to the territory offered to Britain. Doubtless this point will be raised, moreover, when the new Anglo-Italian agreement comes before the House of Commons, because British and Egyptian rights to the lake were recognised by Italy prior to the Abyssinian war. In other words, Italy is offering Britain, without the consent of either Abyssinia or Egypt, rights to territory that was wrested from the former owners by the force of Italian arms. Another factor to be taken into consideration, moreover, is that Britain is negotiating with a non-member of the League of Nations, who is offering a share of the “swag” secured by ruthless recourse to war in the Abyssinian war in violation of half a dozen treaties as a price for one member's powerful help at Geneva. Moreover, Britain has given an undertaking to register with the Secretariat of the League every treaty or international engagement entered into by a member of the Lague. “No such treaty or international engagement,” says Article 19 of the Covenant, “shall lie binding until so registered.” But strangely enough Britain has made no reference to the League in her negotiations with Italy or Italy's declared hostility to collective security.