Evening star., 1935-10-04
The League at Bay.

MuSSolini having launcned MS Iilun-
derbolts with foreshadowed fury on all
fronts in Ethiopia, notably in the form
of murderous air attacks, a shocked and
mortified world watches to see what the
League of Nations intends to do in
stopping a war it failed to prevent.
Geneva is face to face with decision
that cannot be lodged. If, after de-
termining that Italy is the aggreSSor-a
verdict that seems justified by nearly all
the evidence available-the Council and
Assembly do not move to impose sane
tions upon Mussolini then the League.
which he has so contemptuously def1ed,
might as we'll put up the shutters OF its
new palace on the shores OF Lake Leman
and ingloriouSly 60 out of business. Its
usefulness will be at an end AS an IN
strumentality for maintaining nterna-
tional law and order it will fade into
history as a monumental fiasco.
Conscious that nothing less than the
Leagues existence is now at stake, It's
principal bulwarks, Great Britain and
France. are moving to set sanctions ma
chinery in motion. On the heels of
Paris conference between Capt. Anthony
Eden and Premier Laval, the Council
will be convoked in extraordinary ses-
sion tomorrow. Once it is determined
that unprovoked aggression has occurred
In Africa, the covenant violator will be
named and the Assembly convened to
order sanctions automatically to be
enforced That Italy will be found the
aggreSsor can hardly be doubted, despite
Rome's plea at Geneva that the Italian
high command in Eritrea found it
necessary to resort to steps in defense"
The British and the French are ap-
parently in final agreement as to con-
ditions of mutual aSsistance-in the
case of Britain, the eventuality of an
Italian attack on British ships in the
Mediterranean; in Frances case, the
possibility of German aggression. Those
ticklish questions threatened to play
into Italy's hands because of French
reluctance to go to extremes in enforc-
ing sanctions. London and Paris are
now pledged to common action, under
League auspices. They will sever flnan-
cial and economic relations with Italy,
once she is branded the aggreSSor, and
possibly extend financial aid to Ethiopia
for defense purposes. AS additional
pressure on Italy, the program calls for
a boycott on purchase of Italian goods
by League members. as well as sale of
goods to Mussolinis people. Plans to
doned. Britain realizes the risk of a
clash with Italy, which such a step
would entail, and eschews action that
would almost inevitably precipitate a
general European war.
II Duce says that economic sanctions
will not be regarded by him as action
calling for war. Italy will meet them
instead in a spirit of sacrifice" and
"discipline.' The dictator conveys the
impression that Italy is equipped with
the sinews sufficient for victorious con-
clusion of the colonial conflict" upon
which he has so callously embarked.
But if the League finds the courage to
clamp down cast-iron sanctions, and |
League members enforce them relent- |
lessly, Mussolinis mad venture, with its
hideous possibilities of developing into
another world confiagration, may be
checked before it approaches such
dimensions. Geneva faces the solemn
duty of initiating repressive action with
out delay that might be fatal to peace
in regions far beyond those where
Italian bombs and guns are now spread
ing death and devastation in the name
Of Fascist civilization"