THE CRISIS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 279, 7 September 1935, Page 5

THE CRISIS

COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

ALOISI AGAIN WALKS OUT.

NOT SITTING WITH ABYSSINIA.

A DEMAND ABANDONED.

ITALY AND THE COMMITTEE.

(United Press Association—Copyright) (Received Tin's Day, 9.15 a.m.) GENEVA, September 6.

As a result of Anglo-French pressure the Italians have withdrawn their insistence that they sit on the Conciliation Committee, which consists of M. Laval, Mr Eden, Senor de Madariaga, Colonel Beck (Poland) and Dr. Newfik Aras (Turkey). The entire Italian delegation attended the private session of the Council, but Baron Aloisi walked out when Hawariat (the Abyssinian delegate) was invited to take a seat.

THE ITALIAN WITHDRAWAL.

NO COMMENT BY DELEGATES.

TENSION RELAXED' SLIGHTLY

(Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) GENEVA, September 6. No member of the League Council Committee on the Italians walking out when Professor Jeze and Hawauat took their seats. Baron Aloisi resumed his seat immediately the Ethiopian delegates had withdrew. The tension relaxed slightly following the appointment of the committee of five, which is expected to proceed, first consulting one side and then the other on the basis of the. proposals made- at Paris, which, it is believed, Italy is prepared to accept as a point of departure rather than the final concessions offered. . Hawariat has been appointed chief Abyssinian delegate in the place of Professor Jeze, to whom Italy objected on the grounds of French nationality.

THE LEAGUE’S OBLIGATIONS.

THE EMPEROR’S POINT OF VIEW.

JUSTICE AND MORALITY

(Received This Day, 11.30 a.m ) ADDIS ABABA, Sept, G.

The Emperor has issued a communique emphasising that the decision of the Intel colonial Commission of Conciliation absolving Abyssinia in regard to the incident at Uau Ual, strengthens the League’s obligations to decide according to right, and not allow opportunist arguments to, destroy justice and international morality.

“BRITISH ILLUSIONS.”

“JUNGLE OF INSIDIOUS

AMBUSHES.”

ITALY’S DECISION INFLEXIBLE,

(Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, S'ept. 6

The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says that official quarters indicate that Italy’s decisions are inflexible.

The newspapers deplore the “British illusions,” and compare the League to a jungle full of insidious ambushes.

STRENUOUS NEGOTIATIONS.

THE SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE.

A COMPROMISE ARRANGEMENT.

(Received This Day, 11.30 a.m ) , LONDON, September 6

After strenuous negotiations, the League of Nations Council met tins evening in private session. During the afternoon session, at which Baron Aloisi was present, the Council decided on the constitution ol a special! sub-committee of five to consider the Italo-Ethiopian dispute. Objections offered by the Italian delegation to the proposed personnel of the committee were at last overcome by compromise arrangements, according to which the Italian! delegate agreed to refrain from voting on the question. At the public session of the League Council—after a speech by the Mexican member, who recalled the declaration by African Republics in 1932 that they would not recognise any settlement of an international dispute by force, and urged continuation of the efforts to reach a solution of the ItaloAbyssinian dispute within the framework of the Covenant —the Council approved the appointment of a sub-com-mittee, as cabled. The Council then turned to other items on the very long agenda, which includes reports of various committees on economic, financial and health questions, mandates, intellectual cooperation, opium, traffic in women, and other matters.

The committee of five appointed to study the Italo-Abyssinian dispute

Isold its first meeting in private after the Council had adjourned. Senor de Madariaga! (Spain) was elected president. The committee will begin •work to-morrow morning. —British Official TV ireless.

RELATIVELY ENCOURAGING

ITALIANS MORE REASONABLE.

“TIMES’ ” VIEW OF SITUATION. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, September G. “The Times,” in a leader, says that the proceedings of the League Council, while offering no certain prospect of success, are relatively encouraging. It is possible to hope for a peaceful settlement. The Italians are not now so eager to flout their fellow-members as they were earlier. The committee’s report offers the last chance of consummating the attempt which failed at Paris.

PROSPECTS NOT BRIGHT.

COMMITTEE’S LIMITED POWERS

(Received This Day,, 12.55' p.m.) LONDON, September G. The Geneva correspondent of “The Times” says he considers it unwise to base great hopes on the committee of five, whose powers are so limited that the chances of finding a settlement are not bright. Italy’s withdrawal of opposition to the committee followed a long telephone conversation between Baron Aloisi and Signor Mussolini.

DEMAND BY LABOUR.

APPLICATION OF THE COVENANT INCLUDING SANCTIONS. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) GENEVA, September 6. Mr R. A. Eden will to-morrow receive a deputation of Labour supporters. They arc bringing a copy of the resolution passed to-day at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Labour International and the International Federation of Trade Unions, appealing to the League, in the name of millions of workers, to safeguard pe,ace and apply the Covenant, including sanctions.

STEAMERS BOUGHT BY ITALY.

FOUR FROM GERMAN LINE. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, September G. Italy has purchased from the North German Lloyd Line steamers totalling 40,000 tons.

ITALY PAYS COMPENSATION.

WORKERS’ DEATHS IN AFRICA. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) ROME, September 6. It is announced that £47,700 has been spent in compensating the families of Tl 3 Italian road workers who have died in East Africa since Januaiy 1.

ABYSSINIANS’ PREPARATIONS.

SEVERE HANDICAP IN TROOPS. UNTRAINED AND ILL-EQUIPPED. LONDON, September 6. The Addis Ababa correspondent of tho “News-Chronicle” says that the Emperor’s w r ar caravan is being assembled. A thousand mules purchased by Hade Selassie are grazing outside the capital waiting to carry tents, stores, and wireless. Special pavilions have been prepared for the Empress, who, with her ladies-in-waiting, will accompany the Emperor in the event of war, thus following the example of the Emperor Menelik’s wife, who watched the Abyssinian victory at Adowa from a hilltop.

■Sir Pereival Phillips, the Addis Ababa correspondent oi the “Daily Telegraph,” learns from Migjiggathat the rains continue, and the country over which the Italians must advance is still waterlogged. More Abyssinian troops have left for the Ogaden front, carrying nondescript rifles. The scene is enlivened by encounters between debtors and creditors, the latter intent on securing a settlement of accounts. Judges, in accordance with mediaeval custom, are present to hear complaints and adjudicate. An observer ol the daily dispatch of these untrained and ill-equipped peasants realises how severely Abyssinia is handicapped in facing Italy’s gigantic w-ar machine.

MORE ITALIANS CALLED TO ARMS. TOTAL NOW A MILLION. ROME, September G. Breadwinners and only sons of the 1912 class have been ordered to report for duty before the end of the month. They number 50,000, and will bring

the army, with the other classes called up, to a total of 1,000,000 by the end of September, as was foreshadowed by Signor Mussolini in his speech at Bolzano.

WHAT ITALIANS EXPECT.

THE WEALTH OF ABYSSINIA.

MILITARY SUCCESS BEFORE

WITHDRAWAL

LONDON, September 6

The first attempt to show what the Italian man in the street thinks about the Abyssinian campaign comes from the Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” who' says there is no longer any doubt that the Italian people as a whole would welcome a peaceful settlement of the quarrel, but not one Italian in 1000 can envisage the return of the soldiers before they have won a military success. This does not imply bloodshed, but it means that the minimum which Italy considers necessary has not yet been offered. There must he sufficient Abyssinian territory to link Eritrea with Somaliland j there must be a military success big enough to wipe out Adowa; there must lie an outlet for Italian colonists; there must he concessions on a large scale, safeguarded by an army of occupation,. Dreams of boundless wealth are stimulated by the tale of the Rickett concession.

The nation is certain that Abyssinia contains most of the raw materials which Italy now imports at heavy cost. The occupation of the Country, it. is said, could be peaceful, the frontiers being crossed, not after a battle, but after negotiations.

BRITISH MINISTERS TO CONFER LONDON, September 6. •Nio. arrangements have been made for a formal meeting of the Ministers, but Mr Baldwin will lie in consultation with those of his colleagues who are in London. These include Sir Samuel Hoare, Mr Neville Chamberlain, and Mr Ramsay MacDonald. The Prime Minister will spend the week-end at Chequers. (British Official Wireless).

NOT LEAVING THE LEAGUE.

INDICATIONS BY ITALIANS. LITVINOFF’S DECISIVE SPEECH. LONDON, September 6. The Geneva correspondent of the Associated Press says that the Italian delegates are reluctant to discuss the significance of their withdrawal from the chamber of the League, but inquiries indicate that it should not he regarded as a sign that they will abstain from further participation. Signor Guido Rocco withdrew at the point in Professor Jeze’s speech at which lie compared the Italian attitude with an endeavour to make Ethiopia appear like a mad dog, thus justifying its destruction. The principal topic of discussion tonight is the speech of the Soviet delegate (M. Maxim Litvinoff) the decisiveness of which was completely unexpected in view of the previous cautious attitude of the Soviet. The Ethiopian delegates were noticed cordially conversing with M. Litvinoff afterwards.

ATTITUDE OF THE SOVIET. ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITIES. LONDON, Sept. 6. The Soviet member (M. Maxii’n Litvinoff) in a brief but pointed speech, announced on behalf of his Government its readiness to assume all its responsibilities. He repudiated anv sympathy with the conditions which the Italians alleged to exist in Abyssinia, but claimed that it was indispensable to protect the integrity ancl independence of a member of the League. There were other than military measures which could be used to civilise backward countries. He could not approve of the attitude which the Italian member asked the council to take up. Russia had joined the League to collaborate in the cause of peace, and for that reason he advised his colleagues not to shrink from the necessary decisions.

: It is reported later that Baron Aloisi in an interview with M. Laval, demanded the resignation of Professor Jeze on the ground of alleged insults.

RETORT TO ITALIANS.

REFERENCE TO EARLIER STATEMENTS.

LONDON, September 6.

The Geneva correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph’’ says that M. Joseph Avenol yesterday, in rejecting Signor G. Rocco’s request to> suspend the sitting of the council while Professor Jeze was speaking, retorted that the Abvssinians on Wednesday had to listen to serious Italian aspersions against Abyssinia.

CONSULTATIONS CONTINUED.

ITALIAN CLAIMS SET OUT. GENEVA, September 5. Both M. Laval and Mr R. A. Eden spent a busy morning and afternoon in mutual and separate consultations. Mr Eden and Mr Stanley Bruce conferred withTiie Dominion representatives. Mr Eden also bad talks with

the Polish, Turkish and Danish members of the council, as well as with Don Ruiz Guinazu (Argentina), and the Secretary-General of the League, M. Joseph Avenol. Members of the council and their experts were also occupied' with the study of voluminous documents circulated by Baron Aloisi, and containing the Italian charges against the Ethiopian Government. Italy contended that Abyssinia, manifestly, and with a full realisation of her responsibilities, had continually violated her treaties with Italy. The-second part of the Italian memorandum set out to prove that Abyssinia had never fulfilled her obligations as a League member, and that her political structure is itself contrary to that of civilised nations. It argues that in defending herself against Abyssinia, Italy is in reality defending the principles of the League. The League Council met again tonight, at first in private and then in public. It is indicated that the private sitting was concerned with plans for setting up a small committee of the council to examine further the Italo-Ethiopian dispute and' the possibilities of a conciliatory settlement. AMENDED FRENCH PLAN. THE POLICING OF ABYSSINIA. LONDON, Sept. 6. The Geneva, correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that, aware that Signor Mussolini’s claim to occupy Abyssinia is based on the contention that Italy should be empowered to police the country, the Premier of France (M. Pierre Laval) lias reverted to the plan he first submitted to Mr R. A. Eden (Minister for League Affairs) a fortnight ago. He now suggests that the forces to maintain law and order within Abyssinia, and along her frontiers should he commanded exclusively by British and Italian officers. This would be a long step in advance of the original Anglo-French conversations.