between 1925, when we definitely rejected the ueneva protocol, and 1955,   
when we committed ourselves to the coercion of Italy by sanctions. During   
those ten years British policy made it quite clear that it did not believe   
in the use of sanctions and only regarded the League as an instrument of   
conciliation. If that policy had been followed it might have been quite   
easy for France and ourselves together quietly to tell Italy that we could   
not allow her to swallow Abyssinia, and to arrive at some reasonable   
compromise. As it was, once the thing was referred to the League of   
Nations, the first step was to hamstring the Abyssinians, by saying that   
arms should not be sent to either disputant. After that it was quite   
obvious to Mussolini that the League never meant real business and he got   
away with it. On the other hand the pinpricking policy of the League so   
exasperated him that it drove him straight into Hitler's arms, whereas in   
the spring of that year he had been prepared at Stresa to cooperate with   
France and ourselves in setting definite limits to Hitler's restless   
ambition. So I definitely take the view that those who favoured "putting   
the teeth into the League" were mainly responsible for the present war,   
and that any similar policy is far more likely to promote a world,war than   
                       to prevent it.                       
 
                                                            
 
 
In all that I have dictated above I have been frankly expressing   
my personal opinions. They are very far indeed from being the opinions of   
the British Government as a whole or of Mr. Churchill, or of the main body   
of British public opinion. All the same I believe the event will prove   
 right. Anyhow, I have stated them with uncompromising frank
 
                                                            
 
 
You must have been greatly relieved to know that  
   Rome has not only been liberated but liberated intact.   
 
                   With every good wish,                    
 
                      Yours sincerely,                      
 
                   The Hon. Myron Taylor.