OPEN LETTER TO KING GEORGE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 93, 14 January 1936, Page 9

OPEN LETTER TO KING GEORGE

French Right Wing. Paper

SENDING OF FLEET TO MEDITERRANEAN

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received January 13, 10.10 p.m.) Paris, January 13. The Right Wing paper “Le Matin” conspicuously prints an open letter to King George protesting against the dispatch of British warships to the Mediterranean. It says this is almost as serious a menace to the principles of Geneva as Signor Mussolini’s aggression in Abyssinia, as Article Ten of the League Covenant contains a warning against individual action which might change guarantees of peace into risks of war. The letter concludes.: May your Government, Sire, take thought today as it should have done in 1914 and the lives of millions may bo saved. We hope you will meet these inescapably logical reflections with the noble spirit of justice and clearsightedness you have always consecrated to your great nation and the peoples of your far-flung Empire. LEOPOLD OF BELGIUM Reported Peace Efforts SISTER FUTURE QUEEN OF ITALY (Received January 13, 11.50 p.m.) London, January 13. Monarchs are figuring prominently in the war’s repercussions. The “News-Chronicle,” describing the latest peace efforts as another plot to hand over to Signor Mussolini the fruits of his aggression in Abyssinia, attributes reported attempts at mediation by King Leopold of the Belgians as being due to concern for the fate of his sister, Marie Jose, the future Queen of Italy. He will doubtless do his utmost to spare the Italian dynasty a change of regime. The Dowager Queen Elizabeth recently visited Rome, and King Leopold went to London from Brussels after meeting her. Belgium, however, is not a member of the League Council, and the Premier, M. Van Zeeland, strongly denies that Belgium has any interest in a treaty which he is reported to hold ready. The King of Rumania, accompanied by the Crown Prince Michael, arrived at Belgrade yesterday on a visit of which no public announcement had previously been made. It was ostensibly a shooting party with the Regent, Prince Paul, and the Premier, JI. Stojadinovitch. King Carol and the Regent afterward met -at. Dedinje Castle.

The “Daily Telegraph” understands that Prince Paul desired to discuss with King Carol the oil embargo which would vitally affect Rumania’s interests, also Britain’s recent questionnaire to Yugoslavia concerning the strength of its fleet and naval bases in relation to mutual assistance in the event of Italian aggression. AMERICAN EXPORTS Dropping of Restrictive Clause ITALIANS JUBILANT Rome, January 12. There is undisguised satisfaction that the clause in the United States Neutrality Bill giving the President power to prohibit abnormal exports ’ has been deleted.

Signor Virginio Gayda, in an article in “L’Avoce d’ltalia,” says that the decision proves the desire of the U.S.A. to remain faithful to the traditional principles of neutrality. British propaganda has failed to produce the required results. An oil embargo would be an act of extreme partiality.