ETHIOPIAN CASE STATED

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21533, 24 July 1935, Page 11

ETHIOPIAN CASE STATED

Minister Claims Big

Improvements FAITH IN BRITISH FAIR PLAY (vsm.c, vur.su .u»L l a.vno«r~-cuiTiuGiiT.) (Received July 23, 9.50 p.m.)

LONDON, July 23. Dr. Ajaz Martin, the new Abyssinian Minister in London, stated his country's case, when members of the House of Commons, of all parties, entertained him at dinner. Dr. Martin declared that the root of the trouble was that while Italy philanthropically desired to civilise Ethiopia's backward people, the headstrong Ethiopians refused to be Italianised. The main question was whether Ethiopia needed annexation in order to progress.

He declared that domestic slavery, which was not the same as slavery had been in America, was almost halved. Trade had increased wonderfully, legal administration had been vastly improved, the law had been codified, a special court of appeal for foreigners established, and punishments modified. Proper prisons had been built and prisoners were better treated. General administration had been placed on a proper footing under 10 Ministers, and the number of schools established by the Government was increasing. Hundreds of miles of roads and scores of bridges had been constructed, and thousands of good houses erected. The standard of living had' increased tenfold, the people possessed 10 times as much knowledge of the outer world and other things, as they had 20 years ago. Most of this progress had occurred under the of the present Sovereign. Ethiopia should be left peacefully to work out her own salvation and attain a high standard £>f (( knpwledge and civilisation. "Ethiopia is in sore travail and anxiety, but Almighty God will deliver her from bloodshed and disorder through British fair play, and the sympathy of all lovers of justice."

A DESPERATE FIGHT

PREDICTED

(Received July 23, 11.50 p.m.) PARIS, July 23. "We will fight in desperation, ruthlessly. Men, women, and children will defend the independence of the country. It will be a massacre," replied Tikla Hawarist, Abyssinian delegate to the League of Nations, when he was asked whether Signor Mussolini was facing a stiffer task than he imagined. He reiterated that Abyssinia would never surrender a strip of territory, though he hinted that special foreign interests justified special concessions, without preference to Italy.