RECALLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 7

RECALLED.

ITALIANS' 'PLANES. Armistice Report Followed by Rejoicing at the Front. i NEWS CAUSED SURPRISE. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 9. An earlier report from Asmara, Eritrea, stated that Italian bombing aeroplanes scouring the interier of Abyssinia were recalled by .radio while in flight to-day, and ordered to return to their bases. * The wireless flashed the news that Signor Mussolini had accepted the Geneva proposals for negotiations to end the war, and orders were given to cease bombardment and other operations actually in the course of execution. Marshal Badoglio returned to Asmara.

Scenes of jubilation were witnessed in Asmara when the news became known, and Marshal Badoglio was cheered by the elated crowd. The news was taken to herald a peace with conquest.

The news reporting the order to suspend the operations of Italian aircraft came as a surprise to well-informed diplomatic circles in London. ' No intimation of such an intention on the part of the Italian Government had been given either from Italy or from the theatre of war.

The decision was generally regarded as indicating that Italy regarded the new situation in Europe as having importance overshadowing the dispute with Abyssinia.

League of Nations circles considered that Mussolini had been sincere in ordering a truce one of the essential conditions for discontinuing the sanctions was fulfilled. Consequently, it was improbable that the Committee of Thirteen would even consider the report of the oil committee.

The truce was regarded as an indication that Italy liad decided to maintain the solidarity of the Locarno Powers and might even make a gesture by inarching troops into the Brenner 1 as 3. It was generally considered that Italy's bargaining Powers would greatly strengthen Germany's action.