Sept. 10.
Within the next ten days!t is! expected that Ttaly's long-planned, attack on Abyssinia will be): launched. M. Laval's weighty remonstrance and friendly advice are politely brushed aside by Signor) /Mussolini, although there are signs; that what there is of Italian public opinion is impressed by France's firm endorsement of Great Brilai stand on the Covenant. M. Laval), has well vindicated French fidelity, the League and his speech was a happy complement to Sir Samuel! Hoare's earlier declaration, in that] it managed to interpret a common view with precise attention to the actualities of the European situa-ion on which by reason of her! specially intimate contacts, France speaks with authority. Italy, indeed, has reason to be grateful to M.' Laval for his courage in bringing an objective study of] levants fo support of the League on lines which cot' give Italian policy an opportunity for re-associating itself with the common aims of, Great Britain and France. Nor is Signor Mussolini's attitute—basically unresponsive though it be—entirely neglectful of. that obliga~ tion. - Italy's dificuity remains She—through Signor Mussolini—is) committed to a course of action, against which no argument seems; ikely to prevail. She has.to ignore the fundamental principle of the, League's protest which seeks to entrench the sanctity of solemn pledges and, in so. doing, she. Persists in treating the issue -as merely one of local and -colonial import, regardless. of the clear evidence of its probable reaction on the whole scheme of world affairs.
The idea that the "common front" of Stresa can be maintained -when is preoccupied in from himself? The signs are not flouting the very principles of that Desperately Italian''partnership is rooted in self-decep-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.