ALBANIA AND AFTER [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR, — A
few years ago I witnessed a football match at Highbury Stadium between a representative team from Italy and an English team. During the match the Italians broke every known rule of Association football ; and, at length, the referee, tired of blowing his whistle for infringements, apparently left the game to follow its own course.
During the match I sat next to a well-known Italian, who expressed his deep surprise and regret at the strange mentality which the Italian team - brought into the game. After the match he summed it all up in one terse remark, "Never again." And what shall we say about Albania? If ever a nation was bound by honour, promises, treaties and vows of friend- ship towards a small country, with the avowed object of up- holding that country's independence, that nation was Italy in her attitude towards Albania. But with cynical indifference to her vows and treaties, Italy has ruthlessly crushed the independence of Albania ; and at the very time Italy was reiterating her vows of friendliness she was deliberately planning an army of invasion for the destruction of Albania's independence.
For the perpetration of this international crime Italy must needs_ choose the most solemn day of the year for her as of violence, incidentally exhibiting her entire lack of chivalry by drivia$ from her home a Queen with a baby but three days old.
Our own Government's reply to these acts of dishonour must be that given by the Italian at the football match, "Never again," for never again can we trust Italy and Germany to adhere honourably to any treaty, undertaking, or promise.
In the light of past experience, the present situation demands an immediate conference of all the nations of the world outside the " Axis," with a view to formulating a league of peace to prevent further international crimes such as Italy perpetrated upon Abyssinia and Albania, and Germany upon Czecho- Slovakia. Theleague of peace nations should all immediately sever diplomatic relations with the offending members of the Axis, and drastically curtail all trade relationships, especially with regard to materials used in the manufacture of weapons of war. Such a league of peace would also undertake to pro- tect from aggression by the Axis Powers all those States which may be in danger.
"Never again " must now be the attitude not only of our Government, but of all the Governments outside the Axis. The alternative is to submit tamely to the continued aggression of false and unscrupulous bullies.—Yours, &c.,
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