BRITISH POLITICIANS AND BRITISH SPIRIT [To the Editor of THE
SPECTATOIL Slur—Considering what has happened in Abyssinia, the public of many countries. must now surely wish that time British Government had maintained time firm attitude it first assurned in support of the League of Nat ions : an attitude which might well have prevented time war in Abyssinia. There can, however, be no doubt whatever that by condoning the numerous breaches of treaties this country has suffered enormously in prestige, and that the Italian dictator has been allowed to add to his aggression a (-idiom defiance not only of the League but also of laws hitherto considered binding on all civilised nations.
The outrages suffered by the Abyssinian population need no description here, but it appears that British subje( ts can now be subjected to ill-treatment, which at no previonai period of our history Would have been tamely tolerated by the British public.
It is true that England has so far preferred subservience to carrying out the League Covenant, but can a nat like ours, Which invites attack, expect • tio profit thus in the long
run? Certainly one far-seeing critic, Genera' Smuts does not think so.
At any rate there are many people in this island; who will not willingly accept the role of a nation on the downgrade, and now is the time they should make their voices heard.
To quote a recent opinion from Sir Edward Grigg, the time has gone by for " waggings of the finger and, eloquent perora- tions," and I suggest that it is high taw. that the British publieNhould in the first place demand which of our politicians is primarily responsible for the present state of affairs and either get rid of them or so terrify them of losing votes that they may show some signs of British spirit.—! am, &c.,
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