TRAGIC FIGURE AT GENEVA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22400, 13 May 1938, Page 11

TRAGIC FIGURE AT GENEVA

Haile Selassie To Plead Case ITALY CONFIDENT OF RECOGNITION (united press association—copyriobt.) (Received May 12, 10 p.m.) GENEVA, May 11. Looking a tragic figure, with his hands folded over his black cape, Haile Selassie brightened up and smiled on seeing the cheering crowd which greeted him at the Geneva railway station. A few Italians present commented: “What a comedy!” The former Emperor seemed puzzled and scratched his head while his representative, Taezas, explained .he situation at the League. Afterwards Haile Selassie drove to his hotel, where he saw a doctor, and went to bed, tired out. Lord Halifax will open the debate on Abyssinia to-morrow. He has supplied Haile Selassie with a copy of his speech. Members of the League Council received a letter from Haile Selassie claiming that Abyssinia was not conquered. According to a message from Rome the Italian press says the admission of the Negus to the League Council table need not be taken tragically. The newspapers express confidence that Britain and France will see that recognition is decided upon.

THE SITUATION IN ABYSSINIA

BRITAIN WILL NOT SUPPORT INVESTIGATION PLAN (Received May 12, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. May 11. The Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) told the House of Commons that the British Government wgs not prepared to support a proposal for an international investigation into the situation in Abyssinia. This statement was made in reply to a question alleging that a large part of the country was not under Italian military control. ABYSSINIAN CHIEFS IN ROME BENEFITS OF ITALIAN RULE EXTOLLED (Received May 12. 11 p.m.) ROME, May 12. Fifty chiefs and notables in striking native garb, representing the Italian Empire ip Libya,.Somaliland, and Abyssinia, paid homage to King Victor Emmanuel and Signor Mussolini. The Abyssinian leaders extolled the benefits of Italian rule. ITALIAN KING PLANS VISIT TO LIBYA AIM TO PROMOTE NATIVE LOYALTY (Received May 12, 8.30 p.m.) ROME, May 11. King Victor Emmanuel will shortly pay a visit to Libya on board the Royal yacht Savoia in older to promote loyalty to Italy among the native , in contract with the unrest in adjacent French possessions.