4 OCTOBER 1935, Page 19

EXPANSIONISM : FACT AND ILLUSION

[To the Editor of TRE SPECTATOR.] Codrington's letter surely indicates the fallacy in Sir Norman Angell's argument. , To .compare, even indirectly, the advantages to be gained by Italy froin a conquest of Abyssinia with those enjoyed by us in virtue Of our " possession " of the Dominions is absurd. Estimates of the magnitude of Abyssinia's natural resources' vary between wide limits, but even if they do prove far less than Signor Mussolini hopes, Italy would still have much to gain trona their exploitation by means of the vast amount of cheap native labour which would be available. Our trade must suffer in such an event, and there will be some justifica- tion' in'many Of the Charges levelled against us in Italy if we are not ready th'eensider a plan for League control of EuroPeen colonies hi Africa."

Add to this the very important points raised in Mr. Brogan's article and the weakness of Sir Norman's defence of the status quo becomes apparent.—Yours faithfully, Downs Croft, Longdown Lane, Ewell. A. A. G.

LEWIS.