ABYSSINIAN DEVELOPMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 July 1935, Page 7

ABYSSINIAN DEVELOPMENTS

“HAPPY DEATH” APPEAL REPLY TO MUSSOLINI [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] (Recd. July 20. 11 a.m.) ADDIS ABABA, July 19. “He who dies for his country is a happy man,” declared the Emperor, after a review of his troops, in an appeal to young and old men and women to unite against the invader. He added: It is better to die free than live as slaves. Mussolini has declared Italy is on a civilising mission. He wants to exclude a peaceful solution. He wants a bloody settlement of the old Adowa affair. JAPANESE WARNING. TOKIO, July 19. The Foreign Minister announced that Japan was specially interested in Abyssinia economically and could not remain unconcerned in the possibility of war. Statements that Japan had assured Signor Mussolini- she would not interfere in Abyssinia are officially denied. i ITALIAN ARMY PAY. ROME, July 19. Signor Mussolini is aiming to maintain the morale of the troops in East Africa, and is increasing the pay of the privates. They are receiving twenty pence per day, as compared with the rate of one and three-fifths pence paid to privates in Italy. Corporals are to receive 2s per day, and Corporal-Majors 2s 4d. If they are in Somaliland, the troops will receive an additional fourpence per day each, and also increased rations and improved postal services.

LEAGUE CONSIDERATION

RUGBY!, July 19

The Secretary General of the League M. Avenol, has concluded his visit to Paris, where discussions with French Ministers took place. M. Avenol will return to Paris on Monday, when it is assumed that he will be informed of the latest results of the diplomatic consultations.

Newspapers state that the arguments addressed by the League to Rome are urging the desirability of efforts being made by Mussolini to use the League of Nations’ machinery for putting forward Italy’s case against Abyssinia, which has not yet been officially formulated in public. The British Government continues actively engaged through diplomatic exchanges in Rome and Paris, in efforts to discover means for a direct peaceful settlement of the Italo Ethiopian dispute. These efforts will certainly be continued until success is achieved, or until the matter comes before the League Coucil. In the latter event it is hoped that Italy, as well as Abyssinia, will be prepared to submit a full and frank statement in order that the Council shall be fully informed upon all facts in the case. Members of the Council have been asked to hold themselves in readiness to attend a meeting, which may be summoned about the end of the month.

BRITISH PRUDENCE. LONDON, July 19. Capt. Euan Wallace, speaking at Malton declared that the British Government did not intend to be. the League of Nations’ sole policeman. It was not going to ba stampeded by belligeient pacifists into aggressiveness regarding the Italy-Abyssinian dispute. THE LESSER EVIL. LONDON, July IS. Tho “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent says: “France con ® id ® r ® that, whatever the rights and the wrongs of the Italo-Abyssinian dispute, the whole problem is of secondary importance when compared with the European situation, for the satisfactory solution of which the co-opei-ation of Italy is essential to and especially so in regard to the Au - trian problem. France will not, therefore, consent to risk the friendship of Italy on account of Abyssinia. Though a question of League principle would bo involved in an conquest by Italy, this, in the French view, would be a lesser blow to the League than would be the exit ot Italy from Geneva.” POLITICIANS AND WAR. VICTORIA, July IS. "If war conies, it will have been caused by the politicians-not by he people.” said Mr J. A. U’"™; da before leaving, en route tor ba cisco. “1 am sure that war thought, do not spring from the hearts o the people in any country. Me should take all of the Government heads, once a year, to the battlefields ot France, and let them there meditate. While you in Canada have not completed a great war memorial, neithci have wo? II is unbeUevubl.' . that countlies would wish to go to Mr l.vons urged closer friendships, ami also a more equitable scale ot trade relations between Canada am Australia. He believed that better Pacific relations would bring mote stable measures of confidence throughout the world.