CONTINENTAL REACTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 62, 24 December 1935, Page 5

CONTINENTAL REACTION.

SOME ASTONISHING STORIES. PLAN ATTRIBUTED TO 1L DUCE. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, December 23. “I have no remorse,” declared Sir Samuel Hoare, as he entered *an ailliner for Switerland. Attention, however, has shifted from Sir Samuel Hoare’s past to Mr Eden s future, especially in Rome, where Italian political circles declare that EngT land has thrown off the mask and wants war. Wild stories are current that Mr Eden threatened Signor Mussolini when in Rome, and now he intends to cany out his threats. Well-informed circles declare that Mr Baldwin could l have not chosen a surer way of stiffening Jtalian resistance. English residents in Italy leal a recrudescence of the anti-British demonstrations. The Austrian Press echoes Italian concern and declares that British poicy will henceforth follow the straight Eden line, and hopes events will not prove it a mistake. . The Paris correspondent oi the “News-Chronicle” says that astonishing stories are current in diplomatic circles. For instance, that the LavalHoare proposals were based on a .draft drawn up by Signor Mussolini himselt, and. transmitted to M. Laval. Signor Mussolini intended to proclaim acceptance of the terms after the pretence that they did not come up to expectations. ‘ Another story is that Signor Mussolini asked . King Victor Emanuel to urge the King of the Belgians, who was in London, while Cabinet was studying the proposals, to use Ins influence to secure acceptance. While it is impossible to check the accuracy ot those reports they indicate the general belief in well-informed circles that Signor Mussolini was most disappointed at the collapse of the plan.

BRITISH HELP FOR WOUNDED. red CROSS AT ADDIS ABABA. LONDON, December 22. A press telegram from Addis Ababa reports that a British Red Cross unit of 16 ambulances and five transport lorries, with live doctors and 80 Somali orderlies, lias reached the Abyssinian capital ou its way to the noi them front. The unit was equipped by public subscription in Britain, for which an appeal was made by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other prominent men.—British Official Wireless.