Sept. 20.
Lora Ponsonby and Sir Staiford Cripps perceive the force of the contention that the imposition of sanctions in support of a decision of the League of Nations must in-evolve the collective system in war, As convinced pacificists, although hitherto strong adherents to the League, they cannot subscribe to a policy which has such results. "There is no reason to cavil at their decision: it may or may not be logical but it certainly conforms to a principle. It probably reflects the views of a number of their colleagues and, for the time being, it accords with the attitude of my Lords Beaverbrook and Rothermere with neither of whom the two Labour leaders would ordinarily expect to be in agreement. Mr. George Lansbury has indicated that he is beset by the same qualms. Less _politically-minded folk may conceivably feel strongly disposed to similar emotions, The underlying inspiration of enthusiasm commanded by the League Nations has been a deep abhorrence of war, fortified by a poignant recollection of its actual horrors and an acute perception lof its present disastrous consequences. The assault planned by Italy on Abyssinia has been universally condemned or at least de~ preciated. Readiness to subscribe to measures by diplomatic repre sentation and above all, through the League, for the prevention of the outrage has been generally displayed, if the erratic fulminations of the two Press Lords be ignored. ' Until the last few weeks, however, it -has been. comfortably assumed that either the League would achieve this object by per-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.