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THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 17, 1939
UNITY
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clusion can bring no satisfaction in according him diplomatic re- cognition if he intends to ally himself with Italy with the Med- iterranean situation as it is to day.
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Franco's successes coincide with a sharp renewal in the Ital- ian Press of gross insult to As to Tunis, Corsica, Nice, France has stood firm, But is it much, pse standing firm if access to her African possessions is cut off by the Italian and Ger- man conquest of Spain? With Italy firmly entrenched in the Balearic isles?
For two and a half years since the first day of Franco's Italian-backed stab at Spain, în- telligent observers have besought the democracies to consider this question strategically, if they could not be persuaded to consid- er it in mercy and pity for the of brave people desperately Spain.
And now, "The Times" Paris "There is correspondent tells us-"
reason to believe that M. Daladier himself is losing patience with a situation by which Italy has com plete freedom of action while France stands by with her hands tied."
It has taken two and a half Hong Kong, Friday, February 17, 1939. years to lose patience! Two and
10+ -
SPAIN AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
Perhaps Mr. R. A. Butler can find a source of satisfaction in the Italian explanation that they have failed to carry out the terms of the Anglo-Italian Agreement; and have set fresh troops to Libya, because the French have decided to provide Tunisia with additional troops for its defence. We find it difficult to do so.
Meanwhile, both Britain and France are dickering with the idea of giving de jure recognition to the Franco Administration in Spain, in spite of the known fact
a half years to realise that tours in Tunis are useless if Tunis is to be cut off from France, while Mussolini annexes France's pos- sessions in Africa, by holding her hands fast in Spain!
And, for Britain, the defeat of France, what would that mean?
Pensions For M.P.s
So, after a discussion which has carried on for several years, the House of Commons has at last summoned up the courage to vote itself pensions, where need- ed. The House voted nearly two to one in favour of the scheme, which envisages the deduction of a small sum from members' salar- ies to provide a pension fund for victims of subsequent misfor- tune.
There can be no real argument against the proposal since it in- volves no fresh charge upon the Exchequer. Everyone feels a re- that this would still further dis-proach in the spectacle of an ex- legislator having to fall back up- appoint our friends in the United on public relief, as has happened With States, and leave out of account in more than one case.
political careers tending to be- the depth of Franco's political come less stable, particularly just now when cleavages are sharp commitments to the Axis.
and public opinion is apt to create No recognition should, in fact, surprises even in “safe” constitu- encies, such cases are only too be accorded before it has first possible. And no-one can con- been established whether (a) tend that Parliamentary service, while virtually a whole-time, oc- Franco is prepared to remove for-cupation, provides a salary that eign troops from Spain as soon leaves any margin for saving. as the Government has capitulat- ed and (b) whether Spain, under Franco, proposes to join the anti- Comintern Pact.
انه باور
that, as
Libel Law
Sir Stanley Hill's bill, intro- duced in the House of Commons a fortnight ago, and designed to amend the law of libel, has been withdrawn.
It is perfectly true, perhaps, to assert that realism demand re-
Sir Stanley consented to this cognition of the fact
procedure on the undertaking of things stand at the moment, Gen- the Attorney-General to set up an expert inquiry into the whole eral Franco is the only man likely subject. Its findings cannot be to achieve anything effective to otherwise than to corroborate the misuse of legal processes for the wards the rehabilitation of the blackmailing of the Press and country. It is equally true, how-publishers. Some of the evidence to be laid before it should be of ever, that acceptance of that con-quite à graphic astonishment.