ITALY’S INTERESTS IN AFRICA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 306, 9 October 1935, Page 5

ITALY’S INTERESTS IN AFRICA.

ENTITLED TO SAFEGUARD.

COLONIAL TREATIES QUOTED, GENEVA, 'October 8. An Italian memorandum replying to the reports by the CoVnrruttee ot Thirteen, declares that the tripartite agreement of 1906 provided for territorial union of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland by a line west of Aciclis Ababa. This explicit safeguard clause suffices to indicate the interests Italy is entitled to safeguard. Moreover such rights, although they might contradict the Covenant, cannot be considered as lapsed. Such an argument might have serious consequences, as most colonial empires in the world are based on such treaties../ . .

The memorandum adds, presumably referring to the Anglo-Egyptiftii relations: “Is it proposed to deny the validity of the colonial agreement Italy concluded with Britain and France regarding Ethiopia., while other agreements which are still ietained preveht nations already .declared independent from entering the League?”

NATIVES DESERTING.

ITALIANS RETREAT FROM DOLA

LONDON, October 8

The British United Press correspondent at Addis Ababa says that, despite the Italian successes, native troops are beginning to desert, 250 having joined the Abyssinians with five machine guns and twelve 'mules loaded with ammunition.

The Abyssinians are countering the Italian aerial propaganda by means of special agents who daily filter through the 'ltalian lines, hearing verbal messages to the Askari troops from Ras Seyoum.

The Italians attacking in the Dola district were forced to withdraw to Somaliland. No major engagements occurred.

MORE TROOPSHIPS SAILING, HEAVY ARTILLERY SHIPPED. NAPLES, October 8. Five more troopships are sailing to East Africa to-day. One is carrying six batteries of heavy artillery.

WARSHIPS IN RED SEA.

TWENTY-FIVE ITALIANS REPORTED. LONDON, October 8. The Port Said correspondent of “The Times’’ says that Italy now lias 25 warships in the Red. Sea, including the cruiser Taranto and four submarines. The remainder are destroyers, sloops, and other small craft.

MERCHANTMEN SEARCHED.

ITALIAN AND BRITISH WARDSHIPS

LONDON, October 7

A “Sun-Herald” S'ervice ' message says that reports have reached London, regarding which official quarters aie silent, that Indian troops have been dispatched to British Somaliland tor defensive wprks, including the digging of trenches to be carried out in Egypt; It is further stated that British and Italian warships each searched Wvchantmen in the Mediterranean.

CANAL CANNOT BE CLOSED.

BLOCKADING ALSO FORBIDDEN

LONDON, October 8

After a. meeting in Paris of the directors of the Suez Canal Company, it was stated that the question of closing the canal or raising the dues for the transport of arms had not been discussed.

An official of the company said 1 , “International jurists have concluded that by the Suez Canal Convention of 1888 the canal can neither he closed to Italian ships nor blockaded.”

THE FINANCIAL BAROMETER-

LOCALISED CONFLICT EXPECTED

LONDON,. October 7. The Stock Exchange is _ strong, especially armaments. Gilt-edged securities are better. The City Editor of the “Daily Mail”

says that mere cheerful market conditions prevailed owing to the view that serious European reactions to the Abyssinian situation are unlikely: also that the war will be confined to Africa.

THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

LABOUR. URGES RE-ASSEMBLY. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, October 8. At a speciaj, meeting of the Parliamenary Labour Party to-day it was decided that the acting-leader (Major Attlee) should make a formal request to the G overnment for the speedy reassembly of Parliament, and that arrangements be made for a debate on the international situation on the day the House meets. The 'Speaker and the Lord Chancellor are empowered to call the Houses of Parliament together during the'recess on the advice of the Government, but it is thought in political circles that Ministers will take the view that no useful purpose would be served by a meeting of Parliament at present. The House of Commons will reassemble in any case on October 29. British Official Wireless.

“THOUSANDS” OF CASUALTIES!

ROME REPORT ON ABYSSINIANS.

LONDON, October 7

The extent of the Italian casualties has not yet been disclosed in Rome, thpugh it is stated that “thousands” of Abyssinians have been killed or wounded.

SEVEN HUNDRED CASUALTIES.

THE ABYSSINIAN ESTIMATE. LONDON, October 7. . The Addis Ababa correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that the Abyssinians place their casualties at 700. They the Italian estimate of 7000 as the entire sector did n&t contain so many troops.

TRAPS FOR TANKS.

CAMOUFLAGED PITS DUG. ADDIS ABABA, October 8. Noel Monks, correspondent of the “Sun-Herald” news service, reports that a terrible fate befell the crews of four Italian tanks when they ventured into Adowa. With a cunning they had not been given credit for, the Abyssinians had dug a mile-long series of lion pits 30 feet deep and camouflaged them in the usual way with trees and light layers of dirt. The crews of the tanks crashed to their deaths before the ruse, was noticed.

SELASSIE’S STRATEGY

ATTACK IN DIFFICULT VALLEY

LONDON, October 7. The “Daily Chronicle’s” military expert points out that the Italian flanks are still in the air. The Emperor Haeli Selassie’s local strategy is to allow viie invaders to advance down the difficult Takkaze Valley, which his mountaineers will attack from east and west.

MUCH AMMUNITION ISSUED. SUPPLIES FOR ABYSSINIANS. LONDON, October 8. The correspondent of the British United Press in Harrar says 2,000,000 rounds of ammunition were distributed to outposts on the Ogaden front. Ras Mikaiel, the commander, reports that he expects the Italian difficulties to increase when they reach the waterless country they are now approaching south of Jijiga.

FRENCH DOCKERS’ ACTION

NO LOADING FOR ITALY-. PARTICULARLY MILITARY CARGO LONDON, October 7. ,- 1 The Paris correspondent of the “Guardian” says that the Dockers’ Union instructed members to refuse to load vessels for Italy, especially if the cargoes are likely to be of military value. This to foodstuffs.

WITHDRAWAL OF FILM DEMANDED.

ALLEGED PRO-ABYSSINIAN BIAS. ’ LONDON, October 8. The Vienna correspondent of “The Times” says that the Italian Minister protested against a, German-made film about Abyssinia that is being shown in Vienna, on the ground that it was pro-Abyssinian. He demanded its withdrawal. The Government is considering action.