NOT LEAVING THE LEAGUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 September 1935, Page 7

NOT LEAVING THE LEAGUE

ITALIAN POLICY-STATEMENT — I NO ANTI-BRITISH AIMS [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.} ROME, September 28. Signor Mussolini presided at a meeting of the Council of Ministers. A communique was issued after the meeting which 'states: “It has been decided that Italy is not going to leave the League of Nations until the League assumes the full 'responsibility . for measures against Italy. ’ The communique emphasises the calmness of the nation, and its support for the Fascist regime, which it says: “Will shortly show the world a thorough civil mobilisation, unprecedented in 'history. Italy is not taking the initiative at Geneva, where rights have been disregarded from the outset.”

The Italian policy has no immediate, or .remote, aims likely to injure British interests. On the contrary, Italy is ready to negotiate an agreement harmonising with all of the legitimate interests in East Africa, and Italy will avoid -any action extending the Abyssinian conflict to Europe. The communique is interpreted as being an appeal to Britain to reconsider her attitude towards Italy’s “rightful claim.” The commentators emphasise the friendliness of hhe communique .to Britain, and also its unusual procedure in pointing out to “the British people, despite the efforts of the anti-Fascists to mislead them” the readiness of Italy Ito negotiate to' harmonise her aims with the British interests in East Africa. Nevertheless, newspapers have resumed attacks on Britain.

NO TURNING BACK.

PARIS. September 28.

“I have, reflected well! I have weighed everything," declared Signor Mussolini, when interviewed by . the “Le Petit Journal’s” Rome correspondent. He added: JTwo hundred thousand of our sons have sought honour in going to East Africa to, serve —if necessary to die. Who would bring them back before they havq obtained the fruits of -their {heroism and sacrifice?” The Italian communique has shattered any remaining hopes that Mussolini might, at the eleventh hour offer to (negotiate under the auspices of the League. The most optimistic refuse to believe that Britain will enter into any direct negotiations. France’s next step will be decided by the Cabinet next week, when, it is believed, M. Laval will accede to Mr. Eden’s request to an-early re-assem-bling of the League Council.

ITALIAN REINFORCEMENTS

(Rec. September 30, 1 p.m.) LONDON, September 29.

It is reported from Addis Ababa that flie Abyssinians are planning to concentrate six hundred soldiers every three square miles in the threatened territory, thus depriving the Italians of the possibility of a pitched battle. Meanwhile, nine thousand additional troops, comprising the Gran Sasso Division Under Duke Bergamo, cousin of King Victor Emmanuel, sailed from Taranto, bringing the last ten days’ total to 50,000. The Italian Foreign Office spokesman, referring to Selassie's threat to mobilise, pointed out the Abyssinian was always in a virtual state of mobilisation, the Abyssinians having for many years massed troops on the borders of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. An early outbreak of hostilities would favour Italy, because waterholes were full and the Abyssinians were undernourished. Moreover, war would prevent a full harvest. ABYSSINIAN EXPECTATIONS. ♦ LONDON. September 28. Sir P Phillips; the “Daily Telegraph’s” Addis Ababa correspondent reports: The Emperor 'will refiain from a general mobilisation until he is absolutely certain that danger to his frontiers can no longer be averted. He is waiting further -advices from European observers. Only when they assure him that the last word has been said will he call on every Abyssinian capable of bearing arms to rally to the defence of Hie country. The Emperor beliaves that even il the entire weight of the Italian forces now assembled in East Africa were to be thrown against him, he would be able, by skilfully-carried-out guerrilla operations, Ao prevent any decisive result for the first three months, and after that Italy would be expected to collapse economically and financially under the weight of Sanctions which, it is assumed, will by then be applied. “Air *raicls on Abyssinia will not win a war for Italy. Abyssinia is the only country in the world with a movable capital. The present one has not historic significance, and it can be readilv changed without impairing-the nation’s moral. The principal suffeiers in such raids would be the European communitv which carries on the„bul t of the trade and commerce here. LEAGUE’S APPRECIATION. ‘LONDON. September 28. The League Council has telegraphed to Emperor Haile Selassie, expressing appreciation of his decision to withdraw his troops 2U miles from the frontier in order to avoid the possibility of‘untoward incidents. M Litvinoff circulated the Empeior’s telegram to members of the Council, which will probably consider it to-morrow. The opinion is expressed that the appeal is intended to emphasise the Emperor’s earlier request lo despatch League observers to Abyssinia.

ITALIAN VIEW

ROME. September 28

A communique states: Italy cannot take seriously the Abyssinian Empeior’s withdrawal of troops from the frontier which withdrawal has a strategic.'and not a pacific object. It masks the preparations in the interim, these fortifying the Ethiopian troops in stronger positions. the sailings of the Italian divisions have been accelerated.

mascal day.

ANCIENT FEAST RITES

(Reed. September 30, 1.30 p.m.t LONDON. September 2S. The "Sun-Herald" special Addis Ababa correspondlent describes the scenes on Mascal Day. Abyssinians celebrate the Biblical least of the first fruits before their Emperor, in

(the same manner as their forefathers celebrated before the Queen of Sheba, Mascal is the one day of free I speech in Abyssinia, the Emperor be- ' comin'g only a figurehead. / On a special throne in Menelik I Square, he sat for five hours to-day, while blood-lusting warriors in teeming rain, came whooping before him, brandishing spears, swfords, knives and guns, and screechingly telling him what they would do to their enemies. Some hurled insults at him for delaying war, but Haile Selassie sat impertubably through it all. Simultaneously, thousands of warriors, including the Imperial Guard at the old palace, were tearing raw -meat with sword-like teeth. To-mor-row, big-chested warriors will hand each other flowers and’ perform a Maypole dance in the presence of the Emperor, attended by a Black Court, the latter dressed in all manner of uniforms from that of a Swedish admiral to a Russian general. MOBILISATION DRUMS.

(Recd. September 30, 2.3.0 p.m.) LONDON, September 29.

A “Times’s” copyright message from Addis Ababa discloses that 'the Abyssinian delegation at Geneva telegraphed to Selassie/ confirming the previous opinion that war was imminent, upon which Selassie ordered provincial mobilisation, confined to frontiers, without disturbing the central provinces. Mobilisation at the centre is necessary because it takes 20 days for troops -to take up support'positions behind the northern frontier troops. Front line troops had been well placed for some time, but the difficulties of supplies prevented the despatch, until the last moment of tropps to form the second line, which must be extremely strong. Moreover, a general mobilisation is necessary before the levy on national forces is made, therefore when mobilisation is begun, probably next week, it will be carried out with the highest ceremony. It will be heralded by the Royal drums of lionskin, each of which is four men’s burden. The twin drums of Bas Kassa, of Gondar, •who is on the nearest throne, will take up the summons communicating it to the great single drums of provincial commanders, until every drum in Ethiopia is rallying the order to notify the warlike peasants in the remotest provinces who are still unaware that war is afoot, and that their country’s hour hclS COTT)O Major Dothee, chief of the Belgian military mission has resigned. General Vergin. Selassie’s' Swedish adviser, is departing on account of illness.

ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS.

GENEVA, September 28.

The League Assembly has adjourned This course, however, will enable it to be called at twenty-four hours’ notice. ' , \ , Geneva will be almost deserted. Most of the delegates are returning home this afternoon. Even the members of the League Council are leaving Geneva for a few days. M. Benes, in announcing the adjournment, stated' that, probably it would be unnecessary to again convene the Assembly. He added that the session had been historic, as the declaration made by the Great Powers had brought a hope that the League, after its years of trial, was becoming a new moral and political and even a new material force.

The League Council's Committee of Thireen have instructed the League Secretariat to prepare the historical section of a report on the origin of the Abyssinian dispute. “If necessary, go back to the Flood,” said Mr A. Eden. It is expected that the report will be completed by October 3, when the Committee of Thirteen will consider its recommendations.

After a short public session, the League Council to-day adjpurned.-

A QUIET WEEK LONDON, September 29.

The Associated Press special correspondent at Geneva says: Probably nothing short of an act of war will produce any fresh development in Geneva during the next five or ’six days. The -work of the Committee of Thirteen is being carried on by the “second sitting,” but, apart from a decision on the Emperor of Abyssinia’s request for observers, the Committee of Thirteen’s report will mostly be technical, as recommendations, forming an annex, are not contemplated until the return of the heads of the delegations. The task will necessarily be a long one. The League Council also desires to avoid any appearance of haste in arriving at a judgment.

MARINE INSURANCE

LONDON, September 29

Marino underwriters extend to sailings via Panama, the war risk rate of 18 pence per cent, cargo, and one shilling per cent, specie, arid have also placed a new rate of sixpence per cent, on cargo and specie to Australian and New Zealand.

THREE-POWER CONFERENCE

PARIS, September 29

Interviewed by’ “Le Petit Journal.’ Mussolini announced a willingness to participate in a Three-Power Conference, similar to Stresa.

CANAL CLOSING?

LONDON, September 2S.

The “Daily Herald” discloses that a special meeting of the Suez Canal Directors is being held at Paris next week-end, to discuss the situation in view of a possible application of Sanctions. Britain will be represented by Earl Cromer and Sir lan Malcolm. Franco will be represented by President Doumergue, General Weygand and others.

The 1888 Canal Convention immunised the Suez Canal from naval blockade. and internationalised it. and also declared it to be open both in peace time and in war time without any distinction of flag. Nevertheless, many international lawyers hold that Article Twenty of the League Covenant, which abrogates all international conventions, if consistent with itself could also abrogate the Canal Convention.

It is further assumed that if the Suez Canal were to be closed, Italian supply ships could be prevented from penetrating the Straits of Gibraltar as an alternative to East Africa route round South Africa.

BRITISH LABOUR

< LONDON. September 28. The Labour Party Executive has arranged for the annual conference of the Party to debate Labour’s approval of enforcement of sanctions. The de- ' bate will begin on Tuesday next, October '.l. Two days will be set aside

.for it. Lively developments fire anti-' cipated. If the use pf Sanctions is approved, the Leader of the Party, Mr.George Lansbury is expected to offer his resignation. ' • .?• GREEK PRECAUTIONS. LONDON. September 28. “The Times’.s” Athens correspondent: says: The Greek Council of National and Economic Defence have decided./: in case international affairs take amore serious turn, to complete Greece’s war supplies and ensure an adequacy, of raw materials. ADDIS ABABA, September 29. '-The Emperor telegraphed afwarning to the Council that he cannot much, longer delay mobilisation in the face of the rapid-continuous reinforcements from Italy, and urging the Council speedily to take precautions against aggression. /The time has come when he will be ! failing in his duty, if he longer delayed .the call to his army.

SHIPS AND GAS ATTACKS.

LONDON. September 27.

The latest anti-war raid precautions handbook,- of which the Government is issuing a series, deals with merchant . shipping, which, according to the opinion expressed, is likely to be attacked with mustard or similar persistent gas, thus necessitating protective clothing such as respirators, oilskin suits and rubber sea-boots, while a ship must immediately be decontaminated, otherwise she Iwould remain dangerous for weeks.

■Port authorities must appoint an-an-ti-gas officer, who will certify the freedom of outward-bound ships and their cargoes from' gas, or lelse warn shipmasters when there is a likelihood of an air attack, and thus enable the necessary , precautions to be taken. The handbook recommends that in. the event of .*an outbreak of war, ships likely to be exposed to a • gas attack should be provided with canvas covers, bleach powder, paraffin, protective clothing, shower baths and foiling facilities for decontaminating clothing.

PRESBYTERIANS AND WAR.

AUCKLAND, September 2S.

Replying to the Hou. A. D. McLeod’s remarks in Parliament regarding Presbyterians and war, the Moderator of the General Assembly; the Rev. Dr. Dickie, said this morning he thought that not more than 2 or 3 per cent, of Presbyterians were pacifists. He certainly was not. There was a small but very lactive pacifist group, but not more so than in other bodies. The church believed that sometimes war was the least of a number of conflicting evils. The question of the righteousness of a war nvould depend on the circumstances. The official policy of the Church was to support the League of Nations.