MAY BACK DOWN?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 224, 21 September 1935, Page 9

MAY BACK DOWN?

ITALIAN VOLTE FACE. Changed Attitude Noted at Geneva. MUSSOLINI A NAPOLEON? (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, September 20. Cabinet meetings in Paris and Rome on Saturday are expected to lead to important developments. Signor Mussolini may announce new economic measures. Roman circles see a possibility of his accepting the League peaco plan as a basis for further negotiations, while news from Addis Ababa indicates that the Emperor is considering acceptance of the plan in its entirety, despite the unwelconiencss of Italy's claim to special economic privileges.

Significance attaches to an interview by the French Ambassador, M. de Cliambrun, with 11 Duee, also to a conference between the British Ambassador, Sir Eric Drunimond, and the Italian Foreign Envoy, Signor Suvieh.

It is understood that the reason for M. de Chambrur.'s interview was to convey to Signor Mussolini a telegram from M. Laval saying that the limit of conciliation had been reached and that France could do nothing more to help Italy, but would stand firmly by Britain in upholding the League Covenant. M. Laval is believed to have repeated this assurance to Mr. Anthony Eden.

Several correspondents emphasise the remarkable change in the attitude of tho Italian delegation at Geneva, the •'Manchester Guardian" going so far as to describe it as panic-stricken, adding that the delegates, including Baron Aloisi, wjio does not venture to advise Signor Mussolini, are of the opinion that Italy should adopt M. Laval's suggestion and negotiate on the present proposals as the only way to save the Fascist regime, which any resort to sanctions would cause to collapse.

Well-informed circles in Home assert that Signor Mussolini alternately gives way to fits of rage,' during which nobody ventures to approach him, or inaccessibly shuts himself up in a room. His obsession is that Destiny compels him to make war, after which he will end his days in exile on an island like Napoleon.

At the request of the British Foreign Oflice. the Columbia Broadcasting Corporation lias cancelled a broadcast to America to be given by Mr. F. W. Riekett, to whom the recent Abyssinian oil and mineral concession was granted, lest tho false impression that he is connected with the British Government be revived.