ITALY'S AIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 231, 30 September 1935, Page 7

ITALY'S AIMS.

MINISTERS MEET.

Avoid Action to Embroil

Europe.

FRIENDLINESS TO BRITAIN.

United Tress Association.—Copyright.

ROME, September 29,

Signor Mussolini presided yesterday at a meeting of tho Council of Ministers. A communique issued subsequently stated: "It was decided that Italy will not leave the League of Nations until the League assumes full responsibility for measures against Italy. .

"Italian policy has neither immediate nor remote aims likely to injure British interests. On the contrary Italy is ready to negotiate an agreement harmonising legitimate interests in East Africa.

"Italy will avoid action which would extend tlio Abyssinian conflict to Europe. However, she cannot take seriously the withdrawal by the Emperor of Ethiopia of his troops from the frontiers, which has a strategic, not a pacific, object and masks preparations for fortifying tlio interior.

"The Ethiopian troops now are in a stronger position, consequently the sailings of Italian divisions will be accelerated."

The communique lays stress on the nation's calmness and its support of the Fascist regime, which, it says, will be shortly shown to tho world through a civil mobilisation unprecedented in history. Italy is not taking the initiative at Geneva, where her rights have been disregarded from the outset.

Tlio Italian Cabinet's communique is interpreted as an appeal to Britain to reconsider her attitude toward Italy's "rightful" claim. Commentators emphasise its friendliness to Britain, also the unusual procedure. They point out "to the British people, in spite of efforts of anti-Fascists to mislead them," Italy's readiness to negotiate about British interests in East Africa.

Nevertheless, tlio newspapers have resumed their attacks on Britain.

LEAGUE INQUIRY.

"If Necessary Will Go Back to

The Flood."

WORK AT GENEVA PROCEEDING

LONDON, September 29.

Tho special correspondent of the Associated Press at Geneva says: Probably nothing short of an act of war will produce a fresh development at Geneva for the next five or six days.

The work of the Committee of Thirteen is being carried 011 by "second strings," but apart from the decision on the Emperor Haile Silassie's request for observers the report of the committee will be mostly technical as recommendations forming an annex are not contemplated until the return of the heads of the delegations.

Tho task necessarily will be a long one. The Council also desires to. avoid the appearance of haste in arriving at its judgment.

Dr. Benes, in announcing the adjournment of the Assembly, stated that probably it would not be necessary to reconvene it. Ho said the session had been historic as the declaration of the great Powers had brought hope that the League, after years of trial, was becoming a new moral and political, even a material, force.

The Committee of Thirteen has instructed tho League secretariat to prepare the historical section of the report on the origin of the Abyssinian dispute. "If necessary go back to the Flood," eaid Mr. Eden.

This section is expected to be completed by October 3, when the committee will consider its recommendations.

THREE-POWER TALK. MUSSOLINI WILLING. (Received 2 p.m.) PARIS, September 29. Interviewed by "Le Petit Journal' Signor Mussolini announced his willingness to participate in a tlirec-Pow ci Conference, similar to the Stresa parley of earlier this year. FRUITS OF HEROISM. IL DUCE AND HIS TROOPS. PARIS, September 29. "I have reflected well and I have weighed everything," declared Signor Mussolini, in an interview with Le Petit Journal" Rome correspondent. "Two hundred thousand of our sons have sought the honour of going to East Africa to serve and, if necessary, to die. Who would bring them back before they have obtained the fruits of their heroism and sacrifice?" GREEK WAR SUPPLIES. PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN. "Times" Cable. LONDON, September 29. I i Tho Athens correspondent of "The | Times" says the Councils of National and Economic Defcnce have decided, in case international affairs take a more serious turn, to complete Greece s war I supplies and ensure the adequacy ol her raw materials. SHATTERED HOPES. REACTION IN FRANCE. PARIS, September 29. The Italian communique has shattered remaining hopes in France that Signor Mussolini might make an eleventh hour offer to negotiate under the auspices of tlie League ot Nations. The most optimistic do not believe Britain will enter upon direct negotiations. France's n«t step will be decided by tlio Cabinet next week, when it is believed M. Laval will accede to Mr. Eden's request to speed up the procedure which will lead to the early reassembling of the League Councu.