The Waikato Times TUESDAY; JUNE 11, 1935. A CHALLENGE TO THE LEAGUE

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19599, 11 June 1935, Page 4

The Waikato Times TUESDAY; JUNE 11, 1935. A CHALLENGE TO THE LEAGUE

Upon assuming office as Prime Minister o£ Britain, Mr Stanley Baldwin, reviewing the international situation, said that developments in the Italo-Ethiopian dispute were causing anxiety in Europe. The latest recorded declarations of Signor Mussolini are not calculated to allay that anxiety.

Mr Anthony Eden, the newly-appointed Minister in Charge of League'of Nations Affairs, is also perturbed. Referring to some fantastic anti-British stories that have appeared in some of the Italian papers, he said they may have a prejudicial effect on the relations between the two countries —a danger recognised in ome, where it lias been deemed expedient to treble the guards at t e Embassy and take other precautions.

Mr Eden also points out that Prance and Italy are committed by treaty to co-operate in the maintenance of the political an ern torial integrity of Ethiopia. So far, however, there has been littio inclination on the part of the Italian authorities to co-opera e \u anyone. They appear determined to play a lone hand, an no o brook interference.

Italy has not appeared in too favourable a light throughout the present crisis. She has been more arrogant than conciliatory, and tho Duce at times has adopted a bellicose demeanoui, w ic , o say the least, is not calculated to further the cause of peace. Mussolini lias undoubtedly done much to retrieve Italy rom e comatose state of the post-war. days. He has appealed fervent y to tho racial instincts of the people, and aroused them rom. eir lethargy, but in doing he has also quickened their martial fervour and imbued them with a desire for national expansion. That aceom plished, he appears inelined to set the forces which he has called into being in motion, or is it a case of the tail wagging ie og Has he started something which he cannot curb? His latest pronouncements certainly seem to indicate an intention to treat tiea les with impunity, and to flout the League of Nations, of which Italy was regarded as one of the pillars.

Three months ago Ethiopia appealed to the League of Nations expressing apprehension at,the gathering of Italian troops in proximity to her frontiers and pointing out that nothing would be more simple, if the concentration continued and the forces were deemed to’ be of sufficient strength, to manufacture pretexts for aggressive action. It may be only a coincidence, but several such incidents have already been reported,, and Italy has eagerly seized upon them as providing a pretext for the despatch of more troops, in defiance of this undertaking entered into by Italy and Ethiopia when it was decided to refer the dispute to arbitration: “It should be expressly agreed that during the whole period of negotiations and during the procedure of arbitration, the two Governments undertake not to make any military preparations or any concentration of troops, and not to take any stop which might reasonably be regarded as a military preparation. The decision of the arbitrators, once pronounced, will be final; the two Governments will undertake to conform scrupulously thereto in all its parts, including the moral and pecuniary reparations due on either side.”

The situation is undoubtedly pregnant with danger. Ethiopia as a member of the League has appealed to that body to see justice done. That appeal cannot be ignored, despite the fact that the apparent aggressor is one of the pillars of the League. The independence an.d territorial integrity of a small and comparatively defenceless country is, imperilled by the aggressiveness of a strong nation.

The League bears a tremendous responsibility in the matter. It is a challenge to its existence.