SANCTIONS POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 22194, 23 November 1935, Page 17

SANCTIONS POLICY

QUESTION OF KEY PRODUCTS BRITAIN WILL JOIN IN UNITED ACTION Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyri;, LONDON, November 22. Captain Eden is expected to attend the meeting at Geneva of the Committee of Eighteen. The ‘Daily Telegraph’ says: “The British Government’s policy on the extension of sanctions is that if others are prepared to withhold deliveries of key products Britain will dp the same. It is recognised in London that an oil sanction would be a drastic one, almost inevitably provoking retaliation, but it is understood that the British Government has fully considered this aspect.” , The ‘ Daily Mail ’ declares that Italy’s reply to an oil sanction would be reprisals, producing “a situation fraught with incalculable quences.’?AM ITALIAN DECREE ECONOMY MEASURE ROME, November 22. With the aim of further strengthening the Italian economic resources to counteract sanctions, Signor Mussolini has issued a decree granting 100,000 soldiers in the home forces three months’ leave, thus saving £16,600 a day and providing labour for increasing the agricultural and other crop output. It is believed. that the move foreshadows" quiet demobilisation of 650,000 men, comprising the home army, which costs a vast sum. This is interpreted as an indication that the fears of European complications have been allayed. Signor Mussolini, as an example to Italians to save metal, surrendered his collection of bronze busts of hims.elf stored in his country home in order that they may be melted down. BRITISH BANK BALANCES IN ITALY LONDON, November 22. The city editor of ‘ The Times ’ denies that Signor Mussolini ordered the blocking of British bank balances. On the contrary, he does not intend to sequestrate British assets. The regulation applies to all foreign banks and aims at the investigation of the source when foreign payments are made in order to prevent traffic in smuggled notes. POSITION IN VATICAN CITY CARRYING ON NORMAL ACTIVITIES VATICAN CITY, November 22. Though many prelates are voluntarily observing the restrictions imposed on the Italian-people, the Vatican 1 is not participating in the anti-sanctions campaign. Meat cannot be bought in Rome on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, but is being sold daily at the Vatican store. It is understood that the Pope has not changed his manner of living. Petrol costs 5s 4d a gallon in Rome and Is 8d in Vatican City, and other commodities are also cheaper. It is not expected that any restrictions will be imposed as the Vatican gets goods duty free through the Customs. The 400 inhabitants in Vatican City State have 150 motor cars (mostly American); the highest proportion in any State in the world. The Pope has six cars, all presented by the makers.

ITALIAN CONVOY ATTACKED LONDON, November 21. A copyright message from Harrar ;bates that the Dagabur wireless reports that Abyssinian advance guards attacked a convoy of 70 Italian lorries which were transporting Somali infantry near Bulalc, in the Fafau Valley, and captured 63, killing and wounding the majority of the occupants, although the officers escaped! The Abyssinian casualties were heavy. MUSSOLINI’S SONS MEDALS FOR GALLANTRY LONDON, November 22. The British United Press Rome correspondent says: “Signor Mussolini’s sons, Bruno and Vittorio, have been awarded silver medals for air gallantry in the bombing operations on the Northern Abyssinian front. Signor Mussolini will personally pin the medals on their breasts when they arrive in Rome on Christinas leave.” AWARD FOR VALOUR LONDON, November 21. The Rome correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says: Sergeant Birago, wiio was wounded during an air raid, died after the amputation of a leg, which was reported to' have been severely torn by a dumdum bullet. General de Bono posthumously awarded him the gold medal for valour, equivalent to the Victoria Cross. ITALIAN DIFFICULTIES NEW YORK, November 21. A North American Newspaper Alliance message from Harrar states that

Wehi Pasha, in an interview, said there were many Dardanelles between Gorahai and Harrar owing to tropical diseases and a network of fortifications. “ General Graziani is really timid, and we have not yet seen the Italian vanguard, only patrols.” THE EMPEROR’S REPORT MORALE OF TROOPS HIGH ADDIS ABABA, November 22. The Emperor, in a communique after ..is flight, pays tribute to the troops’ high morale after bombardments, the high commands’ ability to adapt themselves to conditions, and the people s determination not to submit, despite the air raids. The communique discloses .that the Emperor inspected four captured tanks and decorated seven officers and men for bravery. Ho also placed a wreath on the tomb of Aiework, who wished to be buried in atrench in order to remain continually on the battlefield. SANCTIONS AND TRADE LONDON, November 21. British trawlers threw overboard 100,000 pilchards which British people refuse to* eat and because sanctions have closed Italy, the only market for them. The ‘Daily Herald’ sijys Italy, before November 18,. shipped hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of gloves,, tinned soups, silks, wines, and cheese, greatly exceeding the usual seasonal supply, to sanctionist countries, where there is nothing to prevent delivery. COMMITTEE OF EIGHTEEN SUMMONED GENEVA, November 21. M. Vascbncellos, chairman of the Sanctions Committee; has summoned the Committee of Eighteen for. November 29 to examine the problem of including in sanctions petroleum, coal, iron, steel, copper, and other key products.

COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS TO MEET (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 22. (Received November 23, at ■ noon.) M. Vasconcellos, president of the Cqmmiteo of Eighteen, has arranged for! the committee of experts who are to study the working of the measures proposed by tire Co-ordination Committee, and which were put into execution on November 18, to meet at Geneva next Wednesday. ITALIAN ADVANCE IN THE SOUTH DENIED BY EMPEROR SELASSIE LONDON, November 22. (Received November 23, at 10 a.m.) “ The Italians never achieved the advances they claim in the south,” declared the Emperor in a written statement of his aerial tour given to the British United Press Association. “Actually they are still near Walwal, Gorahai,' and Gerlogubi, a line which they occupied a month ago. The Abyssinians are still southward of Sasabapeh, which the Italians \ falsely claimed they captured. The operations in Ogadcn demonstrated that the Abyssinians are capable of resisting modernised troops, even defeating them. The courage of the Ethiopians compensates for their lack of equipment. They would unquestionably prefer to throw themselves at the enemy, but understand the necessities , doininating our strategic decisions. Air bombing has had not the least effect on the morale of the troops or the inhabitants. The effect of bombing is very meagre. For example, hundreds of bombs were dropped at Gorahai, yet our losses were only 17 killed or seriously wounded.” The Emperor explained that the purpose of his flight was not to encourage the troops—that was unnecessary—but to learn their needs and see for himself the actual military situation. The lull in the battle fronts is more pronounced in Ogaden, whence latest messages report that heavy rain has rendered tracks impasasble. The ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ special correspondent at Gargeisa says the Emperor’s visit coincided with an elaborate plan to attempt to encircle the Italians on the outskirts of Sarabaneh, from where important Italian supplies now cannot be delivered. ' A belated Addis,Ababa communique reporting a successful Abyssinian night attack between Makale and Hauzieu probably refers to tlfe engagement cabled on November 20, which adds that they captured 300 Italians, 200 rifles, and three machine guns;

BRITAIN'S REPLY TO ITALIAN NOTE ADHERENCE TO LEAGUE COVENANT REAFFIRMED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 22. (Received November 23, at noon.) Signor Grandi (Italian Ambassador in London) called at the Foreign Office and was banded by Sir Samuel Hoare the British reply to the Italian Government’s Note protesting against the action of League States in applying sanctions. The reply refers to the Italian Note of November 11, in which the Italian Government thought fit to draw attention to the responsibility entailed by putting in force the measures proposed by the League’s committee on co-or-dination, and continues; “In reply to the general observations advanced by

the Italian Government His Majesty’s Government feels bpuud to emphasise that having itself taken part in the discussions at Geneva it is in a posi. tion to bear witness to the constant anxiety evidenced alike by the Council of the Assembly and by other organs of the League nations. Fully conscious as it has been of the gravity of its responsibilities to carry ' out its duties in a spirit of impartiality and to concede the utmost possible weight to the legitimate interest of Italy His Majesty’s Government is so convinced of the accuracy of this estimate of the work already performed by the League of Nations in connection with the Italo-Ethiopian dispute that it feels that no useful purpose would he served by reopening or recapitulating discussion of the questions raised in the Italian Note, His Majesty’s Government must, therefore, content itself by recalling that on October 7 last the delegates of all Governments represented on the Council, with the exception of the Italian delegate, confronted witli the task of applying the provisions of the Covenant, which are mandatory in character, to facts which were not in dispute, felt themselves obliged to affirm that the Italian Government had had recourse to war in violation of Article 12. Strong as is the feeling of friendship towards Italy which inspires the United Kingdom, His Majesty’s Government felt itself bound to assent to the ■ final decision and accept the consequences which must inevitably ensue. His Majesty’s Government does not conceal the anxiety to facilitate as far as lies in its power as a member State of the League of Nations, and at the earliest possible moment, a settlement of the regrettable conflict now in progress, hut it is unable wholly to pass over the implication contained in the last paragraph of your Excellency’s note under the reply which refers to ‘ free and sovereign judgment ’ which His Majesty’s Government is alleged to be at liberty to apply to the determination of its course of action. His Majesty’s Government, in subscribing to* the Covenant, did not indeed abandon or renounce its own free 1 and sovereign judgment, blit undertook to exercise it thenceforth in Accordance with the obligations of the instrument. No other attitude is open to it, and it would naturally desire to see the Italian Government place a similar construction on its own adhesion to the Covenant.”

FRANCE’S REPLY PARIS, November 22. . (Received November 23, at 1.5 pan.) The Erench reply to the Italian Note emphasises that sanctions cannot be regarded as inimical to Italy, and stresses the League’s impartiality and complete observance of Italy’s legitimate interests. ■» FROivI ADDIS ABAEA LETTER RECEIVED BY DUNEDIN RESIDENT War was enevitable between Italy and Abyssinia even before the final fatal conference at Geneva, was the vjew held in Addis Ababa according to a letter written from the leper station in the Ethopian capital and received recently by a Dunedin resident. The correspondent, writing under date, September 7, makes some interesting comment on the ; difficulties under which preventative leprosy and infant welfare work are conducted. “ I must tell you about the commencement of the untainted children’s work.” the writer states. “ The sweetest little girl was born at the leprosarium on June 14. Her mother is an early nerve case of leprosy, and there was no home or no.one to look after the new arrival, apart from the lepers themselves. ' It was only thought she would live a few hours as she was premature, so I brought her to my house. She was about 3Jib when born, but is now 91b. The infant mortality in this land is very high, but as births are not registered, nor deaths, it is impossible to obtain statistics. I really feel that many of the neighbours are already 'very interested, and that they are realising that it does pay to keep infants clean and use wisdom in feeding them. They cannot understand how the baby sleeps all night without a feed. They feed their babies as long as there is a cry from them at any time—what else but hunger makes a baby cry? they say, so the poor little things are always suffering from indigestion. When the women come and baby is lying down talking to herself they cannot understand it.” The writer says that while she was penning this letter the painters were putting red crosses on the leprosarium to be ready for an air raid. The enemy were_ expected, in times of war, to recognise the sign of the cross and pass by it without doing any harm., It signified the sign of help for the helpless and it afforded, or ought to afford some' protection to the workers. The Coptic Church, proceeds the letter, had recently entered into its Ma&cal celebrations, all the members participating in tbe celebrations. The anniversary, according to them, signified the finding of the cross in Jerusalem. They carried crosses of various forms every day of their lives.