BIG ISSUES.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 6

BIG ISSUES.

The Italian Parliament—nominally an elected body—has ratified the Fascist decree regarding the annexation of Abyssinia. It is not intended to follow the course adopted by the Japanese in Manchukuo and appoint a monarch, but instead to rule the conquered country by force of arms and a purely Italian authority. That, as far as the Fascists are concerned, concludes the whole armed adventure but there remain international problems that may be difficult to solve. The Council of the League of Nations invited a representative of Abyssinia to attend the meeting during the week, and no steps have yet been taken to remove the economic sanctions imposed on Italy, so that the whole question of recognition of Italian sovereignty in Abyssinia has yet to be settled.

In this matter the value of precedents can be seen. The nations have refused to recognise the independence of Manchukuo, on the ground that it was created by force and involved violation of the territory of a member of the League. That will make it difficult to recognise the forcible destruction of the independence of a member State by another member State. If Italian authority in Abyssinia is accepted then recognition of the State of Manchukuo could hardly be refused. It is, however, obvious that something must be done, if only to save the League. The idea that one member can destroy the independenc of another without forfeiting its position in the family of nations represented at Geneva, or incurring any penalty, would be fatal.

It was to prevent just this sort of thing—the use of force by powerful countries against smaller States—that the League was formed. It may not yet have developed the power to prevent aggression, but that does not mean that it should condone it. The weaknesses disclosed must be removed, the risks sometimes necessary to preserve peace must be run. Upon the decision to be reached at Geneva will depend the policy of the smaller States, for if the collective system should fail then they must seek a measure of security by linking their fortunes with whatever Power they regard as the best for their purpose. Decisions of vital importance must soon be reached. The Italian policy has made that inevitable.