NO ULTIMATUM

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 121, 15 February 1935, Page 11

NO ULTIMATUM

Report of Demands By Italy Denied ABYSSINIA DISPUTE Statement By British Foreign Secretary (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, February 13. The situation in the dispute between Italy ami Abyssinia was the subject of a statement in the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, lie said that the British Ambassador in Rome had been informed that, following certain recent incidents involving Italian civilians in the frontier zone between Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, where, it was stated, substantial Abyssinian forces had been concentrated, the Italian Government had, as a precautionary and defensive measure, mobilised in Italy two divisions, aggregating some 30,000 men.

His Majesty’s Government had been further informed that these . precautionary measures In no way implied an intention on the part of the Italian Government to abandon its endeavours to seek an amicable settlement of its differences with Ethiopia by direct negotiations, as foreshadowed by letters addressed to the of the League of Nations on January 19. The Government has also been informed that there lias not only been no advance on the part of the Italian forces from the line they have long occupied in the disputed'area, but the Italian Minister in Addis Ababa has in fact been instructed to negotiate with the Abyssinian Government. The British Minister in the Ethiopian capital had been authorised to use his good offices in promoting the success of these negotiations.

Sir John Simon added that Press reports current yesterday of an Italian ultimatum to Abyssinia had. been officially denied. Protests had, however, been made in Addis Ababa, following the recent frontier incidents, and in making these protests the Italian. Government reserved its right to seek reparation. The "Ethiopian Government stated that it had lived up to the undertakings given in its letter addressed to the League and strict orders had been given to avoid further incidents. So far as he was aware ho fresh appeal had been made by either side to the League -of Nations. (Note on Page 9.) . ITALIANS BLAMED Abyssinian Attitude EFFORTS FOR SETTLEMENT’ London, February 13. The “News-Chronicle’s” Rome correspondent at Addis Albaba says that the Abyssinian. Government in a statement holds Italy responsible for the Adfub clash. The statement declares that a patrol of 25 armed only with rifles, was suddenly attacked by Italian troops armed with machine guns, after an aerial reconnaissance. Abyssinian sources confirm the reports that the Emperor of Ethiopia is making an effort to reach a peaceful solution. At Rome Signor Suvich assured the Abyssinian Minister that the King and Signor Mussolini were anxious for a settlement in a conciliatory spirit.