NEW PLAN SUGGESTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 77, 13 January 1936, Page 5

NEW PLAN SUGGESTED

ITALY’S DESIRE FOR PEACE. SUGGESTED REQUEST TO LEAGUE COMMITTEE OF NEUTRALS. ABYSSTNIA UNLIKELY TO AGREE. (United Press Association—Copyright.) PARIS, January 11. The suggestion that another attempt to bring about peace is likely is being widely discussed here. Two sources, one of which is “Le Journal,” hint that the initiative may come in an Italian request to the League of Nations to send a committee of neutrals to Abyssinia, ostensibly to investigate the conduct of the war, but actually to explore avenues to peace. Such a committee might censure Italy’s aggression while affirming the necessity for social and economic reform of Abyssinia as a palliative to Italian dignity. Other quarters, however, ask if the Emperor would accept Italian co-oper-ation or be accommodating, in the light of the military position. Addis Ababa messages say that abnormal torrential rains continue, and are greatly heartening the Ethiopians. This, plus priestly exhortations and prophecies, and the eclipse of the moon, which is regarded as an omen, has worked the soldiers into a fighting spirit bordering on hysteria, as is illustrated in the recent capture of tanks. The Abyssiinians now possess 23 serviceable captured tanks, and the Emperor is forming a tank corps.

DANGERS FACE THE ITALIANS.

CONDITIONS IN RAINY SEASON.

UNHEALTHY AND DEMORALISING

LONDON, January 11

A copyright message by a correspondent of “The Times” recently in Asmara says the danger threatening the Italians in Abyssinia when the rainy season begins should not he overlooked. The Italians are now almost wholly under canvas, in which they will remain during the rains, because of the unsuitability of tlie Abyssian dwellings which arc regarded as too primitive and likely to spread disease. Tents are thus the only alternative ,to retirement to Eritrea, which, .is undesirable. Nevertheless, no European army has yet been faced with six months’ torrential rains in tents, especially the low bivouac type which the Italian troops use. Foreigners who have been compelled to camp through a long rainy season in the tropics declare that the experience is appalling, destroying health and demoralising to nerves? Damp and mould pervade everything, making existence miserable. Even the toughest northern Europeans have found such .circumstances unspeakably trying, and tlie more temperamental Latins would probably suffer a harder trial. If they emerge fit to continue the war they will bo entitled to be called supermen.

AMERICA AND NEUTRALITY.

ITALIANS PLEASED AT ACTION

(Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) ROME, January 12

There is undisguised satisfaction that there has been deleted from tho United States Neutrality Bill the clause giving the President power to prohibit abnormal exports.

Victor Gayda, in an article in “La Y r occ d’ltalia” says the decision proves the traditional desire to remain faithful to the principles of neutrality. British propaganda has failed to produce the required results. An oil embargo would have represented an act of extreme partiality.

LEAGUE’S PROBLEM. EXTENSION OF SANCTIONS. ITALY IN SERIOUS PLIGHT. LONDON, January 1. The issue that j will confront the League Council at its meeting on January 20—when Air S. AI. Bruce, Australian High Commissioner, will preside for the first time—will he whether the League will be content with the existing sanctions against Italy or whether it will endeavour to hasten the termination of the conflict by applying additional pressure. Signor Afussolini’s admissions and the despondency of the Italian press, confirm the growing belief that Italy is in a serious plight. No overwhelming military success is likely before the rains, when the campaign ‘will he brought to a standstill until November or December, and if things work out this way, Italy’s financial and economical position will he hopeless. The League therefore is faced with two alternatives:— 1. —To allow the existing sanctions to reduce Italy to a position where ultimately she will voluntarily seek settlement. 2. —To decide whether, in view of the dislocation of world trade in consequence of sanctions it would be better to hastily terminate the conflict by a ban on oil, fully realising the possibility of Italian naval aggression.