The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-12

Italy.
Van ICELAND, Sander and De
Graeff were first to back Britain
in its leadership in demand for
! collective maintenance of the
league covenant in its entirety and
particularly for steady collective
resistance to any and all acts of
aggression"
Netherlands with Britain
But De Graf went further than
did Sir Samuel Hoare, British for
eign minister, in announcing blunt
ly that his country would vote for
penal action against an aggressor.-
Italy against Ethiopia.
The Netherlands, aside from be-
ing power in western Europe, is
one of the conscience" nations.
Others are Spain, Norway, Sweden
and Denmark-and Finland has
voted to support the league with
the Scandinavian countries.
The nations are called the
leagues conscience because when
others suggest compromise with
the basic principles of the league,
they insist on enforcement in spirit
and letter.
De CRAFTS invaluable support for
! Britain came at the outset of to-
days assembly meeting while
France and Britain, facing together
major European crisis, consulted
on means Of saving the league and
curbing Benito Mussolini's defiance
of the world.
Leading q crusade of small,
neutral nations generally who
helped condemn Japan before the
wrold when 1t seized Manchuria,
De Graft said:
Certainly these countries re-
allied when they subscribed to the
covenant which provides penalties
against an aggressor that they re-
nounced in advance, in principle,
the possibility of remaining out
side conflict in the event that a
league member was the victim of
aggression contrary to the provi-
sions of the covenant"
Answered Italy's Defiance
In answering Mussolinis def
ance, De Graf also made a gesture
Of Cancellation to a peaceful Italy
as Hoare did yesterday.
The Netherlands, he said, real
lied that certain nations were at a
disadvantage due to unequal dis
tribution of raw materials and
great density of populations.
Therefore, he said, such nations
might need to expand.
but If the question Is raised
whether needs for expansion can
be justified in resort to force to
obtain what nation lacks" he
added. "the reply must be a cate
gorical: No. Even in these situa-
tions 1t is never permissible to en-
ploy force or violence to seize the
national patrimony of others"
1t was understood that Maxim
Litvinov. Russian foreign minister,
gave assurances of far-reaching
support for the covenant In any
italian attack on Ethiopia when he
visited Foreign Secretary Hoare at
British headquarters today.
Britain -- Franco Confer
France and Great Britain, facing
together a major European crisis,
consulted today on means Of saving
the League of Nations and curbins
Benito Mussolini's defiance of the
| world.
Great Britain had taken the
lead with a demand for COLLECTIVE
maintenance of the league covenant
in its entirety and particularly for
and all acts Of aggression"
| 4
compromise and stuck to his threat
to precipitate world war rather
than yield an inch in his demands
for Expansion" 1t was limited that
France would Join Britain in insist
ing on enforcement of the COW
enant.
Premier Pierre Laval of France
sought to reach Mussolini directly
with an appeal for peace.
Mussolini was reported on good
authority to be enraged by the
forceful speech yesterday of Sir
Samuel Hoare. British foreign Sc.
cretary, and to be planning ar
early speech or newspaper state.
ment in reply.
Italians Appeal to French
AS Laval sought to appeal &c
Mussolinis statesmanship, Italian.
appealed to Frenchmen to stand By
them as against Britain. II France
did desert Britain for Italy, Il
would be the first time In recen,
years that she had not regarded
Britain as the most important ally
she could get.
Laval, Hoare and Anthony Eden
British minister for league affairs
in consultation today, discussed
both the Italian Ethiopian crisis. ir
all its aspects, and the genera
system of European security.
Britain has limited that IL Mus.
solini Is permitted to continue un.
checked on his course she will re.
gard the League of Nations as hav.
ing failed completely and definite
ly. and the European system OF
collective security to have failed.
British Forces Ready
London, Sept. 12-(UP)-Three
battalions of infantry will leave
soon for Malta, Britain's naval base
In the Mediterranean off the Ital.
Ian coast, 1t was announced today
The men will go from Catterick
In Yorkshire, where part of the
Fifth Division is stationed. Tech.
nically they will replace troops
sent to Palestine in 1929, and thus
bring the Malta garrison to author
tied strength. Actually they are
going because of the European
crisis.
It was reported on reliable au.
thority today that three warships
each bearing troops. left Ports.
mouth for Malta unannounced last
J weekend. &