POSITION OF THE LEAGUE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 303, 5 October 1935, Page 5

POSITION OF THE LEAGUE.

ARTICLE XVI. OF COVENANT

COMMITTEE IS CAUTIOUS.

GENEVA, October 3

An Associated Press correspondent says that provided impartial confirmation of the Italian bombing is forthcoming, there will be nothing to prevent the Council on Saturday acting immediately tinder Article XVI. and name the aggressor. Blearing in mind the propaganda in 1914, the Committee of Thirteen is unwilling to accept as established the bombing of a Red Cross hospital nor is there unreserved acceptance of the Italian claim of a “defensive advance” dictated' by Ethiopia’s aggression.

SUB-COMMITTEE OF JURISTS.

TO DRAFT A REPORT.

GENEVA, October 3.

The Committee of Thirteen sat 150 minutes, but did not consider to-day’s happenings, as outside its scope. It .merely appointed a sub-committee of jurists, representing Portugal, Rumania, France, Britain, and Spain to draft a report on the circumstances «and the nature of the dispute. The Emperor complained 1 to the League that Adowa had again been bombarded' in the forenoon by two aeroplanes.

ITALY’S ATTITUDE TO THE LEAGUE.

WITHDRAWAL MAY FOLLOW SANCTIONS.

ROME, October 4

Rome was calm at the reception of the news, coupled with the expectation of crushing Italian victories within four months, though the general view is that Abyssinian subjection will take two years. - f • :i

The summoning of the League Council is much discussed. Although Mussanctions a cause for war, they probai bly will result in Italy’s ( withdrawal from the League. Italian forces in East Africa are estimated at 250,000 of whom 60.000 are natives.

CAUSE OF WALWAL INCIDENT. _ •! I •" . ■ v ■■ • ''if 4 .';:" ji RANDOM SHOT AT A BIRD. : WASHINGTON, October 3. Doctor Pitman Benjamin Potter, a'; member of the International Committee which adjudicated on the Walwal incident on the Ethiopian border, oh his arrival at Nev r York, declared that a restless soldier’s random shot at a bird may have started the entire Ital-ian-Ethiopan conflagration. He said the soldfers of both countries on that occasion faced each other for 10 days at high nervous tension and a chance shot started both sides into action.

EFFECT ON wool trade.

INCREASED DEMAND POSSIBLE,

LONDON, October 4

A report from Bradford says that the developments in Abyssinia have made wool traders cautious, and many topmakers have protectively advanced their quotations, while some have withdrawn them altogether. It is assumed that if other countries are drawn into the conflict large quantities of crossbred wool will be wanted for uniforms.