PRESS DENIAL

Evening Post, Issue 86, 11 April 1936, Page 13

PRESS DENIAL

USE OF POISON GAS

CHALLENGE TO COMMITTEE

(Received April 11, 10.40 a.m.)

LONDON, April 10.

Reviving the charge that British firms are supplying the Abyssmians with dumdum bullets, Signor Gayda, in his latest article in the "Giornale d'ltalia," sneers at the veracity of the

British Red Cross in reference to the use of poison gas.. "The functions of these missions," he says, "often turn out to-be more than mysterious, marking a fine line between humanitarian work and military collaboration and espionage." " The Rome correspondent of The Times" says that Signor Gayda, in a long, inspired article in the "Giornale d'ltalia," denies that 'the Italians are using poison gas in East Africa. He ■alleges that British firms are supplying the Abyssinians with gas and other war chemicals, and challenges the competency of the Committee of Thirteen to inquire into the matter. He declares that the poison' gas charge against Italy is merely intrigue to rot), her of her fruits of victory. Persuasive proofs of the use of gas are wanting. "PHOTOS PROVE NOTHING." "Photographs of burned Abyssinian bodies prove nothing," tne article continues. "Burns may have been caused by flame-throwers or incendiary bombs, the use of which is not forbidden by the 1925 Geneva protocol. Burns may also have been caused by gas used by the Abyssinians themselves in an unsuccessful attempt to employ it against .the Italians. "Even if Italy had employed gas, says Signor Gayda, "she would only have retaliated against the Abyssinian atrocities." He says the reports have been received in Geneva with supreme indifference, even with silent satisfaction, and he points out that the Geneva protocol does not exclude the right^ of reprisals. Other countries, including Britain and Spain, have used gas in colonial warfare without even motives of reprisal. "NO MOEAL RIGHT." Finally, he argues that the signatory Powers of the Geneva protocol can j take action only against a violation of the protocol when they are directly injured by it. The Committee of Thirteen has no moral right to investigate the question because it has shown itself swayed by political motives. The proper investigating body, he states, is the international committee of the Red Cross. : . '