29 NOVEMBER 1935, Page 20

THE LEAGUE, ITALY AND ABYSSINIA

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]

Sin,---How would The Spectator answer the following question ? Suppose the " application of Sanctions " by sonic 50 nations succeeded and Italy was called off through distress of want of supplies, what would happen to Abyssinia ? Already the first road in four thousand years is in building, already 65,000 slaves have been released, and civilisation is following the Italian flag—to which England and even France on four occasions (notably 1891) offered the whole country or part of it. Would the League indemnify Abyssinia or allow Abyssinia to go backward into slavery and rapine and bar- barism again ? And, if so, what is the League to do with the parallel situation now developing in Japan with Northern China ?—Yours obediently, The Rectory, Devizes.

[The League would furnish Abyssinia with the technical expert assistance which the Emperor has already said he would welcome. The last • state of the country would be immeasurably better than the first.--En. The Spectator.]