ABYSSINIA'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1935, Page 12

ABYSSINIA'S REPLY

CESSION UNDER PRETEXT

CONTROL PENDING ANNEXATION..

(Received December 14, 2.30 p.m.) GENEVA, December 13. The Abyssinian reply declining the Paris peace plan is 'a lengthy document which reiterates Abyssinia's desire to assist towards peace and declares that now, although she is a victim of aggression, it is recognised by the League that Abyssinia is invited to cede to an aggressor, under a pretext—a fallacious exchange of territories of about half her national territory—in order to enable the aggressor to ' settle her population there; also to agree that the League should confer on the aggressor, in a disguised form, control over half the Abyssinian territory pending future annexation. The Note adds that while unspecifically rejecting the plan, Abyssinia makes a complete reservation of her sovereign rights and demands that the League Assembly be called on to pronounce whether the proposals are in accord with the spirit and letter of the Covenant. The reply added:— "Ethiopia, taught by cruel experience, declares itself firmly opposed to all secret negotiations." The Secretary of the League, M. Ayenol, has replied that as the Council of the League has been' summoned for December 18 to take cognisance of the Anglo-French proposals the President cf the Assembly considers it advistVle to await the result of the deliberations, before replying to the request.