A REMARKABLE CHANGE NOTED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 291, 21 September 1935, Page 5

A REMARKABLE CHANGE NOTED.

ATTITUDE TOWARD PEACE PLAN. BASIS OF NEGOTIATIONS, BOTH PARTIES MAY ACT. United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 20. The Cabinet meetings at Paris and Rome to-morrow are expected to lead to important developments. Signor Mussolini may announce new economic measures.

Well-informed circles in Rome see the possibility of his accepting the League’s peace plan as a basis for further negotiations, while news from Addis Ababa indicates that the Eimperor is considering acceptance of the plan in its entirety, despite the unwelcomeness of Italy’s claim for special economic privileges. Significance is attached to an interview the French Ambassador (M. de Chambrun) had with the Duce, also to a conference by the British Ambassador (Sir Eric Drummond) with Signor Suvieh. It is understood that the reason for M. de Chambraun’s interview was eonveyed to Signor Mussolini in a telegram from M. Layal, saying that the limit of conciliation had been reached. France could do nothing more to help Italy, but would stand firmly by Britain in upholding the Covenant. M. Laval is believed to have repeated a similar assurance to Mr Eden. Several correspondents emphasise the' remarkable change in the attitude of the Italian delegation at Geneva, the Geneva correspondent of tho “Guardian” going so far as to describe it as panic-stricken, and adding that the delegates, including Baron Aloun, who does not venture to advise Signor Mussolini, are of opinion that Italy should adopt M. Laval’s suggestion and negotiate on the present proposals as the only way to save the Fascist regime, which any resort to sanctions would cause to collapse. Those in well-informed circles assert that Signor Mussolini alternately gives way to fits of rage, during which nobody ventures to approach him, or inaccessibly shuts himself in a room. His ohsessioh is that destiny compes him to make war, after which he mil end his days in exile- on an island, as Napoleon did,

NO IMMEDIATE RUPTURE.

GENERAL OPINION IN ROME. (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, September 20. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says that although no doubts exist concerning Italy's reply to the peace plan, the impression prevails that there will not be an immediate rupture.

IMPORTANT MEETINGS IN ROME.

ant EDEN AND M. LAVAL CONFER

(Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. No further progress in the League’s efforts to solve the Italo-Abyssinian dispute can be made until receipt of comments by the two governments upon the report of the Council’s subcommittee. AYhen presenting the report to the disputants the chairman of the Council (Senor de madariaga) requested that the replies should be delivered as quickly as possible, but it is appreciated in Geneva that some time is necessary for their preparation, and the Italian, reply in any case is not expected till after important meetings which are due to be held in Home to-morrow. In the meantime the principal delegates remain in touch to consider the possibilities of the situation and conversations were held twice to-day, between Mr Eden and M. Laval, who is returning to Paris for a meeting of the French Cabinet.—British Official Wireless.