ITALIANS HURT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21639, 25 November 1935, Page 11

ITALIANS HURT

BRITISH REPLY TO PROTEST "UNCOMPROMISING TERMS" ' i JAPANESE CASE QUOTED (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COI'TBIGHT.) (Received November 24, 7.5 p.m.) ROME, November 23. The uncompromising terms of the British reply has hurt Italians. The predominant feeling is that Britain is determined to slam the door that Italy is so painstakingly keeping open. The claim that Britain is only fulfilling her duties under the covenant is greeted with impatience. In that case it is asked, why does she continue to allow Japan to nibble off bits of China every day. An official spokesman, referring to the British and French notes, says they are not surprising, but they close the door on conciliation at least for the present. He added that if oil sanctions were imposed Italy would have to re-examine her attitude, which is believed to refer to her membership of the league. Signor Mussolini and Sir Eric Drummond (British Ambassador) had 20 minutes' conversation, which was officially described as perfectly satisfactory, but details were not disclosed. Italians, however, believe that the meeting eliminates the suggestion that the situation has reached a deadlock.

TEXT OF REPLY NO CHANGE IN BRITISH ATTITUDE EFFECT OF COVENANT ON FREEDOM OF ACTION (BBITISU OFFICIAL WIfiELKSS.) RUGBY, November 22. Signor Dino Grandi, the Italian Ambassador in London, called at the Foreign Office and was handed by Sir Samuel Hoare the British reply to the Italian Government's Note protesting against the action of the league States in applying sanctions. The British reply refers to the Italian note of November 11, in which the Italian Government drew attention to the responsibility entailed by putting in force the measures proposed by the league's Committee of Co-ordination, and continues: "In reply to the general observations advanced by the Italian Government, his Majesty s Government feels bound to emphasise that, having itself taken part in the discussion at Geneva, it is in a position to bear witness to the constant anxiety evidenced alike by the council and assembly and by other organs of the League of Nations. "Fully conscious as it has been ot the gravity of its responsibilities to carry out its duties in a spirit of impartialitv, and to concede the utmost possible weight to the legitimate interest of Italy, his Majesty s Government is so convinced of the accuracy of this estimate of the work already performed by the League of Nations in the ItaloEthiopian dispute that it feels that no useful purpose would be served by reopening or recapitulating the discussion of the questions raised in the Italian Nete.

Friendship for Italy "His Majesty's Government must therefore content itself by recalling that on October 7 last the delegates of all the Governments represented on the council, with the exception of the Italian delegate, were confronted with the task of applying the provisions of the covenant, which are mandatory in character, to the facts, which were not in dispute. They felt themselves obliged to affirm that the Italian Government had had recourse to war in violation of Article 12. Strong as is the feeling of friendship towards Italy, which inspires the United Kingdom, his Majesty's Government felt itself bound to assent to the final decision and to accept the consequences which must inevitably ensue. "His Majesty's Government does not conceal its anxiety to facilitate, as far as lies in its power, as a member state of the League of Nations, and at the earliest possible moment, a settlement of the regrettable conflict which is now in progress, but it is unable wholly to pass over the implication contained in the last paragraph of the Italian note, under the reply which refers to 'free and sovereign judgment,' which his Majesty's Government is alleged to be at liberty to apply to the determination of its course of action.

"His Majesty's Government, in subscribing to the covenant, did not indeed abandon or renounce its own free and sovereign judgment, but undertook to exercise it thenceforth in accordance with thi obligations of the instrument. No other attitude is open to it, and it would naturally desire to see the Italian Government place a similar construction on its own adhesion to the covenant."

SANCTIONS NOT REGARDED AS INIMICAL

STATEMENT IN FRENCH NOTE PARIS, November 22. The French reply to the Italian note emphasises that France is compelled to fulfil her obligations to the covenant, and adds that sanctions cannot be regarded as inimical to Italy. It emphasises the impartiality of the league, and the complete observance of Italy's legitimate interests.