Sept. 17, While statesmen are sincerely endeavouring to voice the opinions of their respective nations in -discussing the grave problem now engaging the world's anxiety at Geneva, the active expression of public opinion on that issue arouses special interest. The shattering of the complacency which relied on the fervent professions of war-weary nations has produced a curious reaction. So far from encouraging a desperate readiness to plunge once. more into the mysteries of power-diplomacy, it has actually strengthened a determination to force the abolition of war as an instrument of policy upon the urgent attention of Governments. Although certain political cress have manifestly inculated the war-spirit in a new Jand more intensive form, it is significant that they have been unable to achieve their purpose without a drastic negation of all those rights which are held to be the attributes of national freedom and individual liberty of conscience. Where nations are still able to enjoy the privilege of thinking for themselves, the principles of peace-construction are steadfastly honoured and, in the face of the resent menace, desperately invoked. This comes from no-craven spirit of helplessness. It is rather generated in minds which are criterion of physical attainments would be considered at for a lun= atic asylum. Yet this, reduced to its logical absurdity, is the basis of acceptance of Italy's case in Abyssinia. It is not -suflclent to argue that recognition of this view has not been effectively expressed in other similar crises of not very distant date. The gravamen of the present situation Iles in the fact {that it promises entirely to obliterale the landmarks of civilization and it arises from a far more provocative assertion of the armed argument than has ever been presented to the world since the League came into being. And, it this challenge be unheeded, the bulwarks of peace must disappear s0 that the world ly confronted by the grim shadow of a certain con-'Aagration within a few years' time.
That, perhaps, is some indication of the=thoughts now stirring the minds of many people in Enytand and elsewhere to-day. There is a desperate hope that, somehow or other, the unanimity of the con~ @emnation which she is likely to finer may deter Italy from extreme courses, bent though she seems to be on them, thanks to the hypnotic influence of her Leader. It is felt that, s0 sould is the present attitude of the League, a sense of the danger of defying it' may belatedly impress Signor Mussolini, There are weak joints in his diplomatic armour. "When he imfagines that disregard of the League's militarist doctrines, until reo the aserination of acu alive tothe relies of war Jacutely alive to the realities of war wishes can be safely entertained without diminishing the protection natural effects begin materially to Hast horrors and—more important accorded to Italy in the Stresa disturb "the international equil-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.