“WAR ONLY WAY”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 11

“WAR ONLY WAY”

Modifying Position In Abyssinia ITALY’S UNITED WILL Danger of Conflict Seen In British Policy JOURNALIST’S WARNING Duce Stiffens Resistance To Present Sanctions By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received May 15, 10.30 p.m.) London, May 15. The “Morning Post's’’ Rome corrcspomknt says: If Britain wishes to continue a policy aiming to secure any modification of tlie present situation in Abyssinia she can o|| *. v do so by warring with Italy, because Signor Mussolini lias staked the Savoy dynasty on his Abyssinian policy. This is neither sensationalism nor alarmism, but a specific warnning. The decree investing King Victor Emmanuel with the title of Emperor of Abyssinia with sovereign rights over the whole country means that the Abyssinian issue is placed on a new level and that Italy is given a new status—a status unassailable except as a counter challenge to the Italian Crown. Signor Mussolini’s gesture of creating sovereignty so brusquely was not an act of defiance against international usage, but an expression of a threefold united will, namely, the will of the Italian people, the will of the Italian Government and the will of the Italian reigning house. With a nation thus beh’nd him Signor Mussolini made his gesture in order to stop the League wasting further time. His peremptory telephone message to Geneva recalling Baron Aloisi signified that he is not going to allow the question of Crown rights to be even discussed. Italy is ready and equipped to face the consequences and the sooner these two facts are realised the sooner will the Abyssinian embroglio be straightened out." Italy is convinced that. Britain is the prime mover in the endeavour to throw her back to « state of political vassalage from which Italy has at last emerged under the Mussolini regime. Italy wants to be left alone to develop Abyssinia. It is urjientjy necessary that Britain should real so that Italy has taken up a position wh'ch only war can alter and. in view of the British Government’s official policy, the possibility of such " ar | serms perilous'y near. Signor Mussolini, in a special interview with “Le Matin,” recalled that be declared in September that military sanctions would lead to a danger of recasting the map of Europe, and added: “What I then said of military sanctions I repeat now in respect of economic sanctions. I say that Abyssinia is irrevocably Italian. Irrevocable. I repeat that again. Europe must hear that word and let the world know that the Italian people can to-morrow, if necessary, defend their empire with all courage and force.” The “Daily Telegraph's” Geneva correspondent understands that the Italians propose to use Lake Tana as a base for a large licet of long-range aeroplanes. They will also seek to conduct discussions concerning the flow of Nile waters with the Egypt Government, Cairo and Whitehall. CHAMBER RATIFIES DECREES Sovereignty in Abyssinia Rome, May 14. Without making a speech, Signor Mussolini presented the Abyssinian decrees for ratification by the Chamber of Deputies. Entering the Chamber amid cheers. Signor Mussolini demanded that the deputies should urgently agree to the proclamation of Italian sovereignty over the whole of Abyssinia and of King Victor Emanuel as Emperor and Marshal Badoglio as Governor-General, with the title of Viceroy. The decrees were unanimously approved. All the deputies wore black Fascist uniforms, and the Ambassadors of the chief non-sanctionist nations occupied the diplomatic tribunal. A commemorative plaque will be installed. inscribed: “On May 5, in the fourteenth year of the Fascist era, Benito Mussolini founded the empire.” TWO WOMEN RESCUED Italian Soldiers’ Dash ©NE A NEW ZEALANDER (Received May 15, 7.50 p.m.) Addis Ababa, May 14. Italian soldiers rushed to Marayo, 70 miles to the south, and rescued two women missionaries. Misses Freda Horn, a New Zealander, and Daisy MacMillan, an American, who were reported to have been attacked and beaten by Abyssinian pillagers. The abuna K.vriloff, the Egyptian head of the Ethiopian Church, has informed Marshal Badoglio of his full adherence and co-operation. Marshal Badoglio has promised to restore damaged churches. STATUS OF ETHIOPIA Attitude of Britain (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, May 14. The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, was asked in the House of Commons if the Government regarded Ethiopia as possessing full independence. and if not, in whom it regarded the sovereignty of Ethiopian territory as being vested. The Home Secretary. Sir John Simon, replying for Mr. Baldwin, said that the only change which his .Majesty’s Government had so far recognised in the status of Ethiopia was that a large part of the kingdom was under Italian military occupation.