Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1935-12-21
OIL EMBARG0ES .SHELVED
By LEAGUE OF NATIONS

The League OF Nations did much to
avert the threat of a new world war
when it voted to suspend consideration
of oil embargo plans against Italy in
definitely, but also it did much to hasten
collapse of the League of Nations. The
league was organized primarily to keep
the peace among nations. If it cannot
do this, the only excuse for its existence
is the opportunity it affords diplomats
to visit Geneva for conferences with
other diplomats, within or without the
structure of the league.
The political and economic sanctions
against Italy are nothing more than
slap on the wrist. They achieve the end
of expressing the displeasure of the
league nations at Italy's attempted con-
quest of Ethiopia; otherwise they accom-
plish little. They certainly cannot halt
the course Mussolini has chosen to fol-
low. Only such embargoeS as that sug-
gested on oil would have this effect, and
a world war might result before the
plan became effective.
To date, the League of Nations &C
complishments are these:
Economic and political sanctions
which have failed to cause any halt in
Italy's invasion of Ethiopia.
Crises in French and British govern
ments caused by dissension over the
Franco-British peace plan.
Resignation of Sir Samuel Hoare from
the position of foreign minister for
Great Britain.
Conferences, statements and argu-
ments, which also have failed to cause
any halt in the italian drive.
Failure of the Franco-British peace
plan because it was believed by most ma
lions in the league to be directly con-
trary to league policy.
The list is not an impressive one.
Study it how you may, there is no indi-
cation that weeks of conference have
brought about anything but failure for
the league. 1t is as if the league, liken-
ed to policeman, wished to place Italy,
likened to an offender, in Jail, but at
tempted to do so by taking away the
offenders necktie. Political and econ
omic sanctions have taken nothing from
Italy but a few comforts, and the fanati-
cal Fascists do not miss the comforts in
their zeal to create a new Roman en-
pre-
The League of Nations is on trial.
Evidence so far has been damning. Only
a major coup, engineered by great states
men, can save the league from disgrace
in the present instance, for failure of
the league to maintain peace would mean
that it cannot attain its objective under
the most favorable circumstances. How,
then, could it maintain peace if the ma
tions at one another's Threats were major
powers?
Failure of the league in the existing
controversy will mean to the small ma
lions that there is no protection for
them in its framework. 1t will mean
for the large nations that they need not
fear any penalty if they wish to pursue
a course opposed to the common good.
The bars will be down, and another
means must be found to bring about the
age-old dream of assured peace.
Nor has the league long time in
which to act. Further delay will make
action unnecessary, for Italy will have
conquered Ethiopia and the war of con-
quest will be over 1t will be a matter
of history. There is danger in the sit
uation, rising largely from the necessity
for England to protect her interests in
East Africa. 1t will be loss of Eng
lish prestige if Italy is allowed to pro-
coed, and England does not lose prestige
without struggle.
The world watches to see if England
will depend further on the League of
Nations, or move entirely on her own in
itiative.