ITALY AND THE LEAGUE.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 68, 13 December 1937, Page 6

ITALY AND THE LEAGUE.

It is not at all likely that Italy's formal secession from the League of Nations -will eause any great disturbance in European international relations. As a matter of fact, it is mnch more likely to clarify them, and doubtless in some respects it will be welcomed as removing from he League a highly disruptive element, making its possible reconstruetion all the more difficult. For all practical purposes Italy's membership, like Japan's, ceased wben, in flagrant violation of the Covenant, sbe by force of arms annexed the territory of anotber member nation, in her case of Abyssinia. Since tben Italy has really been a virtnal ontcast from the League and her formal preservation of membership was merely a matter of policy on the off cbance that it might give her a useful footing in the pursuit of Signor Mussolini's further scliemes. At no time has either Germany or ltaly, under dictatorship rule, been a reliable member of the League. Both have made use of it, as also of the Locarno, the Briand-Kellogg and the Spanish Non-intervention Facts, as a screen behind which to work their own plans for securing domination on the 0ontinent. Neither has shown the slightest compunction about breaking faith with fellow members and fellow signatories wheneve rsuch a eourse suited their own particular purposes. Now in close association, amounting to a military alliance, Mussolini and Hitler, so far as concerns loyalty to solemn inter-

national obligations, have shown themselves to be perfectly suitable partners. The only question is as to how long they will be able to keep up the fiction of friendship before their respective ambitions will bring them into conflict with one another. That there is a good deal of mutual jealousy between them is instanced by the eagerness with which Mussolini declared that in leaving the League he was not yiclding to any pressure exercised by Germany. To acknowledge that would be a sore blow to his own so vainglorious self-esteem. There is perhaps a good deal in the suggestion from London that Mussolini's "present decision is due to domestic considerations in order to distract the people 's attention from internal diff iculties. " There seems little doubt that Italy's financial position is far from being sound, and in this respect she can expect but little assistance from either her German or her Japanese ally, while feelers put out a few months back for floating a loan in London met with no encouragement. Possibly this factor of weakness might prompt an earlier resort to arms, but that is not likely. It is more probable that Mussolini, so far as concerns military action. will for the time being at any rate be content to rest on his laurels and, as he is now doing, make the most of past achievements. On the other hand, however, his attempt to pose as an apostle of patience and peace can do very little more than make him look ridiculous in the eyes of the outside world and probably also in those of a fairly big body of the Italian people themselves, who dare not raise their voices except in acclaim of his words, no matter how little they may agree with them. For all this, there can be no doubt as to Mussolini, particularly in combination with Hitler, presenting a very serious obstacle in the way of the real pacification of Europe. Fate also would seem for the time being to be playing into his liands and those of his fellow dictator, and there can be no question as to the astuteness with which he takes present advantage of every fresh point that offers. But whether history will in the end proclaim him to have been a great and far-seeing statesman, even in the interests of his own country, is quite another thing. No doubt Mussolini is at tbe moment considerably stirred by the diplomatic mission in which M. Delbos, the French Foreign Minister, is engaged among the smaller countries of Eastern and South-eastern Europe. It is too soon to expect ' any very definitc news as to the success with which he is meeting, but there can be no doubt that Mussolini is keeping a very watchful eye on him. What trutli there may be in the reports of a plot for the assassination of the French Minister while on his tour cannet yet be said. Tf, however, there is any real foundation for them, then there will probably be not a few who will suspect Mussolini of having some instigating hand in the plot, for Italian diplomacy has not seldom before now liad recourse to the stiletto and the poison-eup. In conclusion It may jje mentioned, but not as a matter of any^real significance, that, though it is said "Italy leaves the League as from 11th December," under the Covenant she will still at least nominaliy continue a member for another two years, that being the period for which notice of withdrawal has to be given. What is meant is that she will notf again be represented at the Geneva assemblies.