FAITH IN BIG POWERS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1935, Page 9

FAITH IN BIG POWERS

ABYSSINIA'S ATTITUDE

EMPEROR DENOUNCES ITALY

VIOLATION OF TREATIES

United l'rcss Association-—By Electric Tel«- . \ , graph— Copyright. 1 (Received July 1, 10 a.m. LONDON, June 30. The "Sunday Times's" correspondent ut Addis Ababa interviewed the Emperor, who declared that Abyssinia was frustrated in a recent attompt to purchase munitions from France, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Denmark; some' shipments being slopped at ports although they had been paid for. The Belgian Government explained that it had thereby avoided the reproach of participation in the re-armament of Abyssinia. The Emperor added indignantly: "Isn't it worse to facilitate the accomplishment of Italy's violation of treaties and the coercion of a free people who are weak in all resources except the cause of justice? Moreover, Italy, a p;reat industrial country, ia working day and night to equip her troops with modern weapons, while Abyssinia, a pastoral and agricultural ,country, cannot do more than purchase a few rifles and guns to prevent soldiers going to war armed only with swords and spears. A "Sun" message states that th* Emperor still puts faith in the League of Nations and the big Powers to prevent war. "We cannot' prejudge the; Italian attitude," he said, "but our' desire for peace is absolute' and manifest. ■ AByssinia ■ will accord purely economic concessions to private people or companies, but not to Governments. Italian citizens will be on all entirely equal footing: with other foreigners."