A FEROCIOUS THREAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 286, 16 September 1935, Page 5

A FEROCIOUS THREAT.

TO INVADERS OF ABYSSINIA.

ITINERANT MERCHANTS’ OATH

(Received] This Day, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, September 15. The Addis Ababa correspondent of “The Times,” in a copyright message, says that 2000 itinerant merchants assembled in St. Giorghi’s Square with rifles and cartridge belts, and listened to fiery speeches. They then marched to the‘Palace prior to mobilisation, ine Emperor promised to redress their grievance regarding Government posts and received a promise of full military support, after which the grandees administered the oath of loyalty with a ferocious threat of mutilation and death to all invaders.—“ Times.”

LLOYD GEORGE DISAPPOINTED.

AMBIGUITY OF M. LAVAL’S SPEECH.

(Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. “I would have been better pleased if there had not been such diversity of interpretations of M. Laval s meaning,” said Mr D. Lloyd George, speaking at Llandrindod Wells. With peace jeopardised, and the cause of international right and the League imperilled, it is pre-eminently a case where the meaning should not lie doubted. et a speech by the leader of one of the greatest nations of the world, which momentarily holds the key to the position, causes some to say that M. Laval’supported Sir Samuel Hoare and meant sanctions; others, equally honest, say he carefully refrained from discussing .sanctions. I ask, have the Powers an understanding regarding what will happen if conciliation fails? Mussolini has not deceived 'Europe. He always meant to invade Abyssinia. Why did not the League act promptly when it saw the situation working up ? Why, when Mussolini, with bared teeth is intending shortly to bury them in Ethiopia’s throat, is the League tentatively hanging back while we place an embargo on everything that would enable the Abyssinians to defend them-

selves? Soon sanctions, if devised, will be worthless because Mussolini will have in Africa everything necessary for conducting a most ruthless massacre of helpless people. Another danger is the attempt to force on Abyssinia a compromise which is-practically surrender to Mussolini. If the League must die, let it die reputably, remembered, at the worst, for harmless ineptitude and not abhorred for turpitude.”