The situation as it develops in Europe out of Italian aggression in Abyssinie has ominous elements. danger. Mr. Neville Chamberlain struck the right note in Glasgow when he warned his audience that the strain of anxiety would be long drawn out, The League's handling of the sanctions issue' may seem cumbrous and uncertain, but clear that the determination of the Ration-members is substantially unshaken. Nor should it be forgotten that the responsible governments. acquiescing in the application of what they regard os an effective restraint must be in possession data Justifying their fateful decisions. Signor Mussolini, having launched hhis campaign, is bound to direct his propagandist "energies in. onslaught on British policy as the best means of creating hesitancy at Geneva, The Tatest hysterical outburst from the ornate d'Italia" is not impressive. The other day an attempt was made in Rome to pretend that Great Britain had not given Italy any" hint of opposition to the proposed rape of Ethiopia. The falsity of that pretence was immediately exposed by, egorical citations of the actual dates on which British views—had been forcibly conveyed to the Italian Government on the point at issue. So, Signor Mussolini's organ has the effrontery to try another line attack and, admitting the conversations previously denied, represents them as evasive replies to. Italy's genial offers of a share in the swag. Great Britain's policy from the first has been crystal clear. Italy has been referred to the League. Now conveniently forgetting the contume-Vous insults hurled by Signor Mussoloni at the League, the Italian Journal seeks to convince the world that the quarrel is not with the League, but with Great " Britain This nay be consoling in that it recognizes the League's power to upset Signor Mussolint's calculations, It is to be hoped that it will no! increase French hesitancy of which Sir Austen Chamberlain, a convinced Francophile, takes serious note. Sit Austen's comment is a significant inication of the disappointment caused to friends of France by the ap-Parent readiness of M. Laval's Government to find reasons for dilute Ing the proposed sanctions. The gravity of the whole situation lies in the fact that Signor Mussolini is the Jsupreme voice of Italy. In fulfilment of his purpose he can afford to be utterly reckless. The mere trampling of Ethiopia underfoot will not extricate him from the predicament into which "he has taken the -plunj Already that point is being pressed upon "him. "Meanwhile the world watches with grim horror the development of the Mahan war-machine vindicates the civilization of Europe on the sell of Africa. The crisis demands steady nerves and fortitude, There are grounds for confidence in the combined wisdom of European statesmen now grappling with the most serious international situation yet encountered since 1914.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.