ITALIANS WAIT ON WEATHER

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21580, 17 September 1935, Page 11

ITALIANS WAIT ON WEATHER

Abyssinian Belief UNEXPECTEDLY STRONG DEFENCES UNITED I'KESS ASSOCIATION--COPYRIGHT.) (Received September 16, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, September 15. The Addis Ababa correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says the Italian rejection of a compromise did not surprise the Government. It is believed that Italy will attack immediately the weather permits, regardless of the consequences to herself. Italy's plea that additional re--I™OTcementsT cements are essential because .o Ab y ssinian mobilisation is regarded as mere camouflage, as the Lmperor has not ordered general mobilisation, although he is . prepared for it. If Italy takes the offensive she will meet with a big surprise, the correspondent says, as military experts have been very busy during the negotiations, and the leaders responsible for the frontiers have vigorously co-opei;ated. The preparations are far superior to those for old-fashioned tribal warfare.

RECRUITS FOR THE EMPEROR THREATS OF MUTILATION AND DEATH TO INVADERS (Received September 16, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 15. The Addis Ababa correspondent of ""The Times," in a copyright message, says 2000 itinerant merchants assembled in St. Giorghi's square with rifles and cartridge belts, listened to fiery speeches and marched to the palace before a mobilisation order had been given. The Emperor promised to redress their grievances regarding government posts, and received a promise of full military support; after which grandees administered the oath of loyalty, while ferocious threats of mutilation and death to all invaders were uttered. N.Z. ARGUMENT CAUSES ITALIAN SMILE

APPEAL TO SPORTSMANSHIP NEW TO GENEVA DOMINION MOST SOLID IN SUPPORT OF BRITAIN LONDON, September' 15. The special correspondent of the Associated Press at Geneva says: Theoretically, the assembly has not yet discussed the Ethiopian dispute as the debates have been based on the Secretary-General's report. All -the Dominions, with the exception of the Irish Free State, for which Mr de Valera will speak on Monday, have now been heard. None approached Mr te Water in vigour and originality. Sir James Parr alone specifically undertook to support Sir Samuel Hoare's policy to the hilt.

Mr Howard Ferguson, on behalf of Canada, said: "Canada believes that the league is indispensable to world peace and she cannot agree that any member is warranted in violating her pledges and resorting to war. If a peaceful settlement is not reached, Canada would join with other members in considering how, by unanimous action, peace can be maintained." Baron Aloisi was not present, but the other Italians listened carefully through telephone amplifiers. A grim smile came over Signor Guido Rocco's face when Sir James Parr appealed to Italian sportsmanship, which is a decidedly unorthodox argument in the assembly. The portion of Sir James Parr's speech most appreciated was the reference to the threat to the smaller nations, which was applauded, especially by the representatives of the smaller European powers. However, a few minutes after Sir James Parr's speech, the Italians distributed Ministerial decisions .from Rome, including that announcing acceleration of military preparations, which indicated that the increasing disapproval at Geneva was falling on deaf ears.

"NO NEED FOR SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS" NEW ZEALAND'S SIGNATURE TO BE 'HONOURED LFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 16. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said to-night that Sir James Parr's speech at Geneva required no comment or expansion from the Government here. New Zealand had signed the league covenant, and she intended to honour her signature. Sir- James was acting throughout on this understanding, and there was no.need for any special instructions. Asked whether the Government had been told by the British Government just what form the enforcement of sanctions would take in the case of Italy and Abyssinia, Mr Forbes said that nothing relating to this question had been communicated. The actions of the league signatories would be discussed and decided only when the enforcement of sanctions was agreed to. Mr Forbes considered that the c mmercial isolation of Italy would not directly or immediately concern New Zealand, and he hoped that the situation would not develop even as far as that.