EMPEROR SELASSIE

Evening Star, Issue 22379, 1 July 1936, Page 12

EMPEROR SELASSIE

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ITALY 1 FOURTEEN YEARS OF PREPARATIONS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright GENEVA, June 30. (Received July 1, at 2.15 p.m.) Addressing the Assembly, Selassie said Ethiopia, under his guidance, had become more unified. He would, have been able to procure greater results if obstacles had not been placed by the Italian Government, which continually stirred up revolt. The Italians had not ceased for 14 years their preparations for conquest, yet Abyssinia had confidence in the treaties to which Italy and other Powers had subscribed. In a passage, presumably referring to France, he said: “ It is certain that the situation would not have taken the development it had if a certain Government in Europe had not felt it necessary to obtain the friendship of Italy. A secret treaty has really affected the whole course of events. Fifty-two countries assured me in October that the aggressor would not be successful. When I found it necessary in the first six months of 1935 to provide arms and ammunition, which Abyssinia hitherto did.not possess, I found many Governments had embargoes to prevent my doing so. Italy, however, was able to obtain through the Suez Canal all the latest weapons. Tims in, this great struggle there were 42,000,000 with an unlimited supply of the most modern death-dealing weapons opposed to a small, weak State of 12,000,000, entirely unprovided with modern weapons. What real assistance has been granted my country by these 52 States 'under the Covenant ? Has every nation considered that an act of war has been personally committed against it as the Covenant says it should do?