THE FUTURE OF ABYSSINIA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22345, 8 March 1938, Page 13

THE FUTURE OF ABYSSINIA

* HAILE SELASSIE MAY RETURN REPORTED OFFER MADE BY IL DUCE (UMITED FBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 7, 9 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. Suggestions that Haile Selassie should return as ruler of part of Abyssinia are being revived as a plan to facilitate recognition of the Italian annexation. The British Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) had a long talk with Haile Selassie last week. The "Sunday Chronicle" affirms that Signor Mussolini has made a new offer. He is willing to establish Haile Selassie as ruler of a quarter of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie would live in his own palace in Addis Ababa, receive £IO,OOO a year, and enjoy the same status as the princes under British rule in India.

Haille Selassie has issued the following statement: "In no circumstances will the Emperor consider any arrangement incompatible with Abyssinia's rights of existence as an independent nation. The suggestion that His Majesty is thinking otherwise, when the Abyssinians are courageously and self-sacrificingly resisting the enemy is absurd." The Rome correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says Marshal Graziani presented Haille Selassie's crown and sceptre to Signor Mussoline, who ordered them to be exhibited in the Colonial Museum. ITALIAN CASUALTIES IN ABYSSINIA (Received March 7, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. The Rome correspondent of "The Times" says the Italian casualties in Abyssinia in the last three months were 137. The casualties among the askaris are not published.