Nationalist Executive Meeting
From Our Welsh Correspondent An emergency meeting of the Welsh Nationalist executive committee has been held to discuss the party's position in regard to the halo-Abyssinian crisis. Mr. Saunders Lewis, the president, declared that there were only two aspects of the question with which the party need be concerned.
First—the point of view of Wales herself; Wales must be kept out of war at all costs. If war comes there will be an end of any pretence at a democratic regime in England. There will he immediate military conscription and conscription of labour. This will make almost any protest of no avail, and the chances of securing freedom for Wales by constitutional means )vill be Wales therefore must protest at once against being drawn into English imperial warfare.
The second question concerned the peace of Europe. Another European war will mean the end of European civilisation. If Wales can in any way frustrate England's attempts at war she will render a direct service to Europe in the cause of international peace.
Irish and Welsh Regarding the League of Nations it was suggested that the only hope for a moral League of Nations lay in the reorganisation of a real league between nations. In this connection it is interesting to discern the difference in the Irish and Welsh points of view. President de Valera in order to impress his point of view on the sovereignty of small nations upon England, feels it incumbent upon hint to defend Abyssinia and so to support the League. This will stand him in good stead in future debates with England. But Wales cannot stand alone. Whatever measure of freedom we gain we shall be forced by circumstances to co-operate often with England, so the question of the support of the League in its present form does not arise here.
Wales must set down the maxim that a system of Empires willing to share their territories is not inconsistent with peace in Europe. Thus Wales will ask England: (1) To grant freedom to Egypt (2) To submit the question of the Crown colonies in Africa for decisi,ni by the League.
Compensation for Sanctions
Later, it was decided with regard to the economic position of Wales, that we should demand . compensation for the damage done by economic sanctions to the Welsh coal trades deprived of a profitable market in Italy. Under League ruling, nations thus affected will be entitled to compensation.
The committee meeting was a significant one. It is the first time that the party has had to decide on questions of foreign policy.