With the release from prison and the pardoning of Thomas J. Mooney it is hoped that a particularly unfortunate case has been brought to an end. In 1916 a Preparedness Parade was bombed and suspicion fell upon Mooney amongst others. He was brought to trial, found guilty and sentenced to death, It is a striking piece of evidence to support the contention that at that time the authorities were somewhat uneasy about the justice of the verdict and the sentence, for Mooney was reprieved, and given life imprisonment, From that moment a continuous agitation was commenced by the prisoner, who consistently insisted upon his innocence, in order io secure his release. Some of the evidence given against him was definitely proved to be perjured, but for some reason or other successive governors of California stubbornly refused to release Mooney, That- stubbornness led to Mooney being obliged to serve more than a normal life sentence. Mr. Culbert Olson, when running for election as Governor of California stated that if he were elected he would pardon Mooney, and has now fulfilled his word. He has done more. He has formally stated his opinion that Mooney is innocent, and that he was convicted upon perjured testimony. In doing so he has solved a problem which the various courts by reason of one technicality or another failed to solve during the 22 long years of Mooney's incarceration, and has vindicated as completely as it is humanly possible to do, save for.the fact that up to the present there has been no indemnification for the pain and suffering he has endured, That may be a matter for the State legislature. If it is, it is to be hoped that it will be taken up by that august assembly, for the granting of a monetary solace by the State would place the final emphasis upon Governor's action. Mooney has expressed his intention of devoting his life to securing the release of his fellow*prisoner Billings who still remains in custody. That should prove only a matter of time for if the original trial is as much under suspicion in connection with Mooney as it has now been placed, it is obvious that the jury's finding should no longer be valid against his fellow prisoner, A False Hope The "Popula di Roma" sees in the fact, that Mr. Neville Chamberlain and Lord Halifax will stop for a short time in Paris while on their way to Rome, an indication that France will probably modify her attitude with regard to her opposition to British mediation between herself and Italy. It bases its conclusion on the argument that it would be a breach of international courtesy to have accepted the French invitation without informing Italy of which they are to be the guests. The suggestion that guests keeping an engagement should go direct to their hosts and see no one en route is interesting if not wholly acceptable for it would imply practically a cessation of all other interests while the road to Rome was being followed. There is no indication whatever that France is in any mood to accept British mediation in connection with the latest issues raised between herself and Italy. Obviously mediation could only mean some compromise on the subject of the recent Italian claims, and in this connection M. Daladier has been quite emphatic that he and ment will accept no such friendly office. Of the genuineness of the claims to Tunis and Corsica there will undoubtedly be considerable difference of opinion, but the fact that as short while ago as 1935 Italy contemplated with equal: mity the possibility of Italians in Tunis becoming French citizens within the period of three generations, most certainly suggests that the present display of tender regard as to their fate is something in the nature of an afterthought adopted for very obvious political reasons, not the least of which is to create a counter with which to bargain for concessions elsewhere. Clearly a demand which has about it no more reality than that is not likely to receive much respect in French eyes, and the points upon which Italy now claims satisfaction will have to be settled on their merits. France will cede none of her territory. That has been stated with definite finality and to endeavour to force her to do so can have only one result—war. That no one wants, least of all Italy, for it would not mean a struggle which could be ended with the ease that hostilities in Abysinnia were brought to a conclusion but one in which they would have to meet an enemy of much stronger mettle and material equipment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.