REFORM OF THE LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21775, 6 May 1936, Page 11

REFORM OF THE LEAGUE

Reported Move In

Britain

LESSON OF ABYSSINIAN

WAR

(UNITED PRE3S ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.)

(Received May 5, 11.55 p.m.)

LONDON, May 5

The. statements of the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) and of the Foreign Minister (Mr R. A. Eden), in reply to a deputation from the League of Nations Union, have cause a sensation in political circles. Both Ministers spoke. They emphasised that the Government would have to take stock of the league's position in the light of the apparent failure of collective action in the Itaio-Ethiopia dispute. The question of the reform of the covenant would need very careful consideration.

The "Daily Mail" says the replies are interpreted as meaning the collapse of the league as at present constituted.

Professor Gilbert Murray, a member of the deputation, speaking later at Oxford, revealed that Mr Baldwin confessed to "bitter humiliation" at the league's failure to save Abyssinia. Exceptional interest is therefore centred in to-morrow's foreign affairs debate in the House of Commons, in which it is suggested that Mr Eden may indicate the Government's league reform proposals. The "Daily Herald" declares that the statement has gravely alarmed the Labour party. An executive meeting of the party to-day will consider its attitude.

AMERICANS IN THE CAPITAL

INTERMITTENT FIRING ON

LEGATION

MR ROOSEVELT CONCERNED

(Received May 5, 11 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, May 4

Although only separated by a few city squares, the American Legation in Addis Ababa was to-day compelled to send an appeal for aid to the British Legation via wireless to Washington, telephone to the Foreign Office in London, and thence to Sir Sidney Barton.

A temporary lapse in radio communication between London and the British Legation in the Ethiopian capital, however, has delayed the appeal of the American Minister, Mr Engert, for a Lewis gun and a few Sikhs to help repel the bandits who beleaguered the legation and seriously wounded two servants. Bullets narrowly missed Mrs Engert. Efforts to send messages to the British Legation by runner failed. In the meantime the American building is under intermittent fire. Mr Roosevelt is greatly concerned about the situation. The State Department is somewhat relieved by the British Foreign Office assurances that aid from Sir Sidney Barton would be available as soon as radio communication was re-established. The Ethiopian debacle almost crowds all other news from the front pages of American newspapers. The "New York Times" warns the Italians against too much optimism about their victory. "Whether it moans all it now seems to mean to the Italian people in their first flush of enthusiasm must be left to history to determine. It would be premature to conclude either that Italy has won a victory which will mean her real enrichment, or that this victory incidentally marks the downfall of the league. There is now good reason to suppose that the whole system of the league must be abandoned, because experience has proved that the league to-day is no stronger than the nations of the world are prepared to make it." Mr Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, was asked by Washington correspondents why precautions were not taken for the defence of the American Legation. The question remained unanswered, but at ths State Department it was indicated that Mr Engert had been instructed to abandon the legation at his discretion and to take refuge in the British compound. Officials declined to indicate in any way the American attitude to the Italian conquest of Ethiopia, intimating that the United States would take no action until the situation was further clarified.The State Department late tonight announced: "Because of the critical situation in Addis Ababa the British Minister is unable to spare a detachment of Sikhs to assist in the defence of the American Legation. However, the British Foreign Office has offered to telegraph to Sir Sidney Barton to send a convoy to evacuate the legation. In view of the attack on the Turkish, French, and Belgian Legations, and because the American Legation is not prepared for adequate defence, the British offer has been accepted, and Mr Engert has been urged to take advantage of the opportunity afforded to evacuate the occupants of the American Legation."