[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR]
SLR In your " News of the Week " I find it difficult to accept your sweeping statement " that all the trouble is of Italy's making." Have you forgotten that Italy is one of the " have- not " nations ? I hold no brief for Italy, and though her methods for obtaining what she regards as her rights are to be deprecated, the question still remains, what else can she do than she is doing when the " have " nations adopt methods of procrastination and conferences which result in little or nothing ?
The implacable attitude of France in declaring " that she will not cede an inch of the soil she holds " is not calculated to pour oil on the troubled waters, nor can one altogether blame Italy for employing what you describe as " the blackmail method " for securing what she deems to be her rights. I, for one, would strongly deprecate Mr. Chamberlain visiting Rome in the role of a peremptory schoolmaster (as you seem to suggest that he should). If we are to mediate successfully the term " adamant " should be ruled out of our vocabulary. But, one is thankful to add, I do not think our Prime Minister has the slightest intention of paying his visit in this capacity.— [Mr. Chamberlain will be wise to be adamant because France has expressly said she prefers direct discussion with Italy to mediation. As to Italy's place among the " have-not " nations, she was well compensated in Europe for her participa- tion in the Great War, and after the annexation of Abyssinia Signor Mussolini proclaimed that she had entered the ranks of the " satisfied " nations.—En. The Spectator.]
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