The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-07
LEAGUE READY
TO BLAME DUCE
IN AFRICA WAR
Italy Is Aggressor Nation,
Council viii Report
to Full Assembly.
Continued From Page One)

visions Of Articles XII, XIII and XIV
to seek by means Of war remedy
for grievances thoy believe they
have against other League men,
bers.
The adoption Of measures of Sc
curity by state upon its own ter
ritory within the limits of its inter :
national accords does not authorize
another state to free itself from the
obligations of the covenant"
This blasts Italy's assertions that
it feared Ethiopian aggression)
Lays Basis for Penalties
Adoption by the Council of the
committee Of SKIS report would lay
a firm legal foundation for proceed
ing to impose penalties against Italy
under Article XVI, which provides
for both economic and military
sanctions
Paragraph 1 Of the article pro-
vides that a covenant breaker is
automatically at war with every
member Of the League Paragraph
2 empowers the League to desig-
nate what naval, air and land
forces each member shall use to halt
the aggreSsor. Ethiopia specified
both of these paragraphs in inVok-
ing Article XVI.
Italy, the report indicates clearly,
will not be able to escape interna-
tional justice by prosecuting her
invasion Of Halle Selassies king
dom without formal declaration
of war, as Japan did in her con-
quest of Manchuria
1T is not necessary that war
should formally be declared in or
der for Article XVI TO be appli-
cable" the report says.
The Leagues machinery for the
application Of international JUS
tice endoWs the Council with a
function approXimating that of a
grand jury and the Assembly with
a function approXimating that of
the Judge who pronOunceS sentence
when guilt has been established
following the grand jury's recon-
mendationS as to the character of
the punishment.
TOday'S Council meeting there
fore, is expected to make recon-
mendations to the Assembly, con-
vokeG by its president, Edouard
BeneS. foreign minister of Czecho-
sloVakia, for Wednesday.
Freedom of Action Allowed
Unanimity is not necessary for
Council action when that body is
operating under Article XVI. 1t can
by ma jority vote, designate the
nature of penalties and the date on
which they should go into effect.
Each member of the League is free
to accept or decline participation in
such sanctions. That is the prin-
cipal reason for calling the Assembly
for WedneSday-to allow each
League member an opportunity TO
put itself on record as to whether
it is prepared to join in punitive
measures against Italy.
Any state whose accredited repre-
sentative states before the Assembly
that his nation will participate in
penalties is thereafter legally bound
to apply them.
Some authoritative sources as
cribed MuSsolini's offer to withdraw
y troops from Libya in return for
certain rehabilitation" Of British
naval forces in the Mediterranean
was inspired by Laval, British circles
unofficialy squelched the proposal
Immediately, maintaining that the
League, but encouragement was
found in the fact that the Italian
dictator was again willing to talk
peace.
Duce Repeats Warning
Mussolini repeated his recent and
famous statement that Italy will act
with the League, without the
League or against the League" but
he rephrased it to say solution OF
the crisis is possible with Geneva
without Geneva, or against Geneva.
He took occasion in commenting
on the wonderful" news from
Ethiopia to pay a tribute to the
bravery of Ethiopian warriors.
Significantly, but without elabor
alton, he declared that France will
continue with necessary prudence
The French reply to a British
note requesting naval cooperation
in the event of engagements in en-
forcement of penalties which may
be voted against Italy by the
League of Nations was disclosed au.
thoritatively as an equivocation.
Deals Entirely With Principle
Roughly, France says yes in one
paragraph and maybe in the next
The reply deals entirely with the
principle involved and avoids Spe'
cifc reference to the current crisis
1t states that Anglo French nava
cooperation would be insufficient t
enforce penalties and suggests ar
agreement to include all the mill
tary forces of both nations.
1t also declares that such al
agreement must apply not only IL
case of invocation of the League
covenants Article /, but in applying
Article II as we'll. The latter arti.
Gle, for use in disputes betwee-
League members and non-members
would be Frances bulwark in event
of dispute with Germany.