NO ISOLATED ACTION.

Wairarapa Age, 3 October 1935, Page 6

NO ISOLATED ACTION.

BRITAIN & THE AFRICAN CRISIS. ESSENTIAL NEED OF UNITY. LONDON, October 1. It is stated that Great Britain has no intention of isolated action against Italy, believing that the League’s prestige and influence are at stake, carrying with it the peaceful solution of future international problems. She is prepared to lead a League crusade against an aggressive nation, but not to carry full responsibility. It is impossible for France, leaning heavily on the League for future protection, to expect Britain to pledge action in a hypothetical case unless she is willing to act wholeheartedly in a concrete case such as is before the League now. It is often questioned why Britain is keenly interested in Abyssinia, whereas she is apparently indifferent to Japanese action in Manchuria. Britain ’s answer in the case of Manchuria is that collective action is impossible owing to the stand by America and Russia. In the present case action is possible and League members realise that leakage of League ideals must stop.

Even in the present situation the League is concerned with the attitude of non-members such as Germany and America, inasmuch as, action by them possibly would nullify the League’s imposition of sanctions. No official questions are asked, but members appear to be satisfied with their attitude, relieving that America recognises the League and the importance of peace, while Germany sees the unwisdom of inviting the disapproval of League members by actions against the League. Britain’s stand is simply:—“We are not anti-Italian. We are prepared to support the League against an aggressor. Stand with us in support of the League and the crisis will be survived. Desert and we refuse to act alone, issuing a warning that we believe that cross-roads have been reached at which League members must face the challenge or accept the break-up of collective security and world peace.’’ DISCUSSION AT GENEVA. WORK OF LEAGUE SECRETARIAT. RUGBY, October 1. At Geneva the League Secretariat is at work preparing drafts for the consideration of the Council Committee of Thirteen when it reassembles in Geneva later in the week to discuss its report under Article fifteen of the Covenant -on the Italo-Abyssiniau dispute. No immediate or dramatic developments are expected by those in closest touch with the situation. Procedure under the Covenant is by its nature slow and steady. In British circles it is claimed that through the various stages of the League’s action right up to the present the British Government has taken its full share of responsibility as a leading member of the League, and there is some little disappointment that some other countries have not accepted theirs as fully as their interests in the maintenance of the collective system—which in the case of the smaller Powers are very great—might have suggested. If the League is to be effective it is not sufficient that only the great Powers should accept the obligations which membership involves, but every member must be prepared to play its part in the working of the League machinery.

While the British delegation at Geneva will not slacken in the efforts it has been making in the fulfilment of the policy of complete loyalty to the Covenant as enunciated in Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech ’ in the Assembly on September 11, it is felt in London that it rests very largely with other Powers at Geneva, both great and small, whether the League is to achieve success, if ,not in preventing the-outbreak of hos; . tilities which threatens, then at least Jn bringing them to. an end as speedily as possible.—(British Official Wireless.) PAINFUL iMPPBESSION. ITALY AND, A BRITISH INQUIRY. . — ROME, October 1. Britain’s inquiry about French naval support has caused a. painful impression. It is pegardpd as an unfriendly act and it is believed that Britain is trying, to anticipate the League’s decision. The “News-Chronicle’s” Rome correspondent describes the feeling as undisguised chagrin, inasmuch as any possibility of an Italian attack on the British Fleet is regarded as absurd. Signor Davanzati, Signor Mussolini’s wireless spokesman, goes so far as to describe Britain as a land of spinsters and mean natures. He sees in the British request to France a disguised intention to urge a Mediterranean blockade.