SOURCE OF THE NILE

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1935, Page 5

SOURCE OF THE NILE

ANGLO-EGYPTIAN CONCERN RESTRICTING ITALIAN ACTION [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYTJGHT.J (Recd. August 12, 11 a.m.) LONDON, August 11. “The, Observer’s” Diplomatic correspondent anticipates that the British-French-Italian conference will continue for a week. He discloses that the British delegation will include a representative of the Egyptian Department of the Foreign Oflice, owing to the anxiety regarding Lake Tsana. The correspondent adds: The concentration of Italians at Eritrea suggests the possibility that the Italian forces in the event of hostilities, would early enter the region of the headwaters of the Nile, which' would be of vital interest to Egypt and Sudan. Moreover, Britain would thereby be faced with a fait accompli in a district rserved to herself in the Anglo-Ital-ian treaty of 1926.

FRENCH ATTITUDE. , PARIS, August 11. Although if is suggested that M. Laval would go to. considerable .length to retain Italian friendship, patched up after great efforts in January,' such impression is qualified by reports in financial circles that measures were taken to prevent the Bank of France and other institutions, granting credits to Italy. It is believed that the Italian newspapers’ more reasonable attitude is due to the realisation that France will not support Italy beyond a certain point. The fact that Sir R. Vansittart is accompanying Mr. Eden to Paris, is welcomed, as it is believed he is sympathetic to the French ideal of European unity, and may indicate that Britain will make a gesture of such participation in a guarantee of Austrian independence, as a proof of League solidarity.

MR. EDEN’S RETURN RUGBY, August 10. Mr. Eden, who has been on holiday for a few days in Yorkshire, is expected back in London on Monday. On Tuesday, he leaves for Paris, where he will represent Britain in the threePower conversations.

ITALIAN FINANCE

ROME, August 11.

Welt informed circles state that by raising the bank rate, Italy has adopted the orthodox method adopted by France, when gold began leaving the country. The bank return shows that the gold reserve fell by 266 million lira in the last ten days of July.

COUNCIL MEETING.

(Recd. August 12, 2 p.m.) LONDON, August 11.

The “Manchester Guardian’s” Geneva correspondent says: Instead of an extraordinary session of the Council being convened on September 4, the Council will meet on that date to discuss the ordinary agenda, on which the Abyssinian matter ranks twentysecond', enabling a postponement of the Abyssinian discussions until the end of September. This appears to be a further concession to Mussolini, and will enable Italy to be represented at th© opening of the Council, and to retire if she chooses, when the Abyssinian question arises.

ABYSSINIAN OFFER.

PARIS, August 11.

Emperor Selassi, interviewed by the Havas News Agency’s represntative at Addis Ababa, expressed a willing-; ness to - cede a portion of Ogaden, in exchange for loans, and a seaport, though he declared the conditions must be fully discussed.

MISSION TO JAPAN LONDON, August 11. The “Daily Mail’s” Addis Ababa correspondent says: An Abyssinian mission, headed by Sidji Berrou, a notable Ethiopian, who is accompanied by Shoji, a Japanese merchant, is going to Kobe, Japan, in order to establish an Abyssinian Consulate there. It is reported that they will also endeavour to negotiate for the supply of arms for Abyssinia. They may even propose some form of a military alliance.

N.Z. MISSIONARIES

AUCKLAND, August 12

There are fourteen New Zealanders doing medical missionary work in Abyssinia, according to Mr. Charles I-L Barton, who himself was formerly a missionary there.

He said it appeared that the British Government had made adequate arrangements for British missionaries to leave if they wished, but his letters contained no suggestion that they, were likely to leave their posts.

Mr. Barton said that his letters indicated war was expected as soon as the rainy season ended, about September 15. His opinion was that Abyssinia, owing to natural geographical defences was in a good position to resist attack. He could not see that aircraft attack offered a sure solution of the problems of an invader.