OIL SANCTIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 98, 6 February 1936, Page 5

OIL SANCTIONS

LIKELIHOOD SHORTLY.

THE EXPECTATION AT GENEVA.

ITALY’S EIGHT-MONTHS’ SUPPLY

(United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) GENEVA, February 5.

Authoritative quarters consider there is every likelihood of oil sanctions being imposed at an early date. The statistics committee is considering figures indicating that Italy has only eight, months’ supply, excluding exceptional war requirements. ABYSSINIAN VICTORY. makale reported SURROUNDED MUCH MUNITIONS CAPTURED LONDON, February 5. The Addis Ababa correspondent of “The Times” says that Abyssinian aeroplanes flew over Sidamo and dropped instructions to the populace to obey Ras Desta until Dejazmatch Balcha and Gabremariam return. Has Desta, though retaining the provincial governorship; may he relieved of his military command because he is personally unpopular with the soldiers, who demand the old type of Amhara The Abyssinians are reinforcing the troops in the Bale province preparatory to an expected attack by -General Graziani, whose mechanised column has been nearly doubled. Olier sources in Addis Ababa repoi jthat Ras Bayenna’s forces encountered Y r inci during the week-end and defeated the invaders, killing 1/00, including many Black Shirts, and capturing 18 tanks, 70 machine guns, 3 mountain guns, and 11 lorries. Italian messages assert that a squadron of Caproni bombers frustrated an expected attack on General Graziani s flank by 20,000 Abyssinians, 200 ol whom were killed. The Addis Ababa correspondent of “The Times” say that an Abyssinian victory is reported, Makale being completely surrounded, and the water supply to Tembien threatened.

NO PRESENT EFFORT FOR PEACE LONDON, Feb. 4. Among a number of important questions which, were set down tor answer at the first meeting of the House of Commons for business since the adjournment, were several relating ° foreign affairs. The replies were given by Mr 11. A. Eden, who was loudly cheered when he rose to answer for the first time as Foreign Secretary. _ Mr Eden recalled that when the League Committee of Thirteen met at Geneva on January 20, it decided that at the present juncture there was no action which it could usefully take to promote. a settlement of the ItaloAbyssinian dispute through an agi cement between the parties, but that it would not fail to submit suggestions to the council should more favourable ciicumstances arise. “With that decision, his Majesty’s Government was, and is, in entire agreement,” added Mr Eden. In reply to a separate question Air Eden informed the House that lus Majesty’s Government was taking part in no negotiations for a settlement of the dispute at present. | Turning to the Committee of Eighteen, he reminded the House that when the Committee of Eighteen met at Geneva on January 22, one of its tasks was to consider whether the embargo already existing on certain exports to Italy, could effectively -be extended to petroleum and its derivatives, by-products, and residues. .

The committee had decided to convene a committee of experts to conduct a technical examination to report early on the effectiveness of extending the present measures of the embargo. “I need only add that no time will be lost .in preparation of this report,” said Mr Eden. Finally Mr Eden referred to the communications with other governments on the question of military support to be afforded under Article 16 of the League Covenant. The result of these exchanges, which had been brought to the notice of all the states represented on the Coordination Committee, was to reveal an identity of view in the interpretation of that* part of the Covenant among the governments of France, Great Britain, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Rumania, and Spain.