DEMANDS BY ITALY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 120, 14 February 1935, Page 9

DEMANDS BY ITALY

Reported Requirements From Abyssinia

SUBSEQUENT DENIAL By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received February 13, 7.30 p.m.) Rome, February 12. It is reported that Signor Mussolini lias demanded from Abyssinia : — f. An indemnity of £1,000.000. 2. A formal apology. 3. A bare-headed salute of the Italian Hag. 4. A guarantee that Abyssinia will respect tlie frontiers. 5. Au agreement to the appointment by tlie League of Nations of a mixed frontier commission to define tlie frontier line, making a future misunderstanding inexcusable. Signor Mussolini presided at the Supreme Commission of Defence and discussed Abyssinian General Grazian may be appointed, if an Abyssinian expedition is dispatched. A later message states that it is denied in official quarters that an ultimatum has been presented to Abyssinia.. It is declared, on tlie contrary, that there were no new developments in the situation since the recent pretests. Direct negotiations are still proceeding. i

In the meantime Messina looks like an armed camp as reservists flock to join their regiments. Florence is bristling with steel helmets. It is estimated that 300,000 men are at present under arms throughout the country. The '‘News-Chronicle's’' Rome correspondent says that tlie Italian demands have not the strength of an ultimatum. Negotiations continue atAddis Ababa. A hundred aeroplanes have arrived at Eritrea and a further hundred bombers are ready for dispatch next month. NO ULTIMATUM Report From Abyssinia DENIAL OF AGGRESSION (Received February 13, 8.30 p.m.) Adtjis Ababa, February 13. The Ethiopian Government has no news of the’reported Italian ultimatum and has issued a statement denying acts of aggression and affirming that patrols have never gone beyond three kilometres from the headquarters of the troop to which they belonged. INFLAMMABLE, BUT NOT CRITICAL British View of Position London, February 12. .Owing to the tensity of the Abyssinian situation and Britain’s concern due to the 1906 Treaty pledging mutual consultation by Britain, France and Italy on Abyssinian affairs, Sir Eric Drummond, British Ambassador at Rome, called on Signor Mussolini. He afterwards communicated with the British Government, stating that Signor Mussolini deprecated alarmist rumours and reiterated that only 30,000 troops had been called up as a precautionary measure, because few Italian troops were available iu Abyssinia, where a surprise inovement must not be allowed to catch the Italians unawares. The British regard the situation as inflammable, but not critical.