ITALY’S NOTE TO LEAGUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 July 1936, Page 7

ITALY’S NOTE TO LEAGUE

TROOPS AS LIBERATORS

WELCOMED BY ETHIOPIANS

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, June 30.

At the special session of the Assembly of the League, the Italian memorandum stated that the Italian Government had already shown the Council of the League the situation which existed in Abyssinia, and added that Italy was always willing to consider favourably all the League’s initiatives. The Hoare-Laval plan failed through no fault of Italy, and after the appeal of the Committee of Thirteen, on March 3, the Italian troops took no initiative in military operations during Ghat month. < -- The memorandum proceeds: “The need to be raised to a more human standard of living is deeply felt and claimed by the Ethiopian population, which has given tangible proof of this by rising against the regime of tho Negus, and by welcoming the Itab ian troops as heroes and liberators of justice/ civilisation, and order.' Italy, it continues, views the work she has undertaken in Ethiopia as a sacred mission of civilisation, and proposes to carry it out according to the principles of the Covenant of the League, and other international documents which .set forth the duties and tasks of civilising Powers. Italy assures equitable treatment to native populations by prqmoting their moral and material well-being, and that the natives- should not be compelled to undertake other military duties than local policing and territorial defence. Measures will be taken to guarantee the freedom of all countries. Italy will consider it an honour to inform the League of the progress achieved in .her work of civilising Ethiopia. In conclusion/ the memorandum says that the Italian Government cannot but recall the abnormal situation in' which Italy had been placed, and the necessity for the immediate removal of such obstacles as have been and are in the way of international co-operation, which Italy sincerely seeks, and to which she is prepared to give a tangible contribution, for the sake and the maintenance of peace.

SELASSIE’S REPLY. The'| discussion was opened by the Argentine delegate, who was followed by the Negus. Speaking in Amharic, he said that there was no example of the chief of a State coming to the floor of the Assembly, but never before had the League had an exampl? of a nation being threatened with being erased from the map by ,the most barbarian methods of warfare yet known. It had been, purely and simply a war of conquest, which was forbidden by the Covenant and by civilisation. It. was for that reason he came to Geneva to defend the independence of his people. He felt that it was his duty, as Emperor, to discharge this supreme duty, after having himself fought at the head of his army.

Reviewing the course of the war, the Emperor'"dai(r"th^t' ; it y wasi w Makale that the Italians, faced by defeat, decided to use all the forbidden methods of warfare. • , Referring to the treaty with Italy, in 1928. he said that despite its provisions, prohibiting recourse to war and providing arbitration and conciliation, Italy never ceased to prepare’ for the conquest of Abyssinia. Treaties of friendship, he added, served merely to conceal Italy’s true aims. He recalled the decisions taken by the Council and the Assembly, which ended in declaring that Italy had violated the Covenant and was an aggressor. It was true that Ethiopia was incapable of defending herself without armaments, aircraft, or outside help. Her fate might be the fate of any other small nation, even a European country. There had, he said, been no real attempt to stop the aggressor, and the raising of Sanctions meant the abandonment of Ethiopia to the aggressor. Were States going to create the terrible precedent of bowing before force?

NOT SPONTANEOUS LONDON, June 30. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Geneva correspondent reports that Signor Mussolini has communicated the outline of Italy’s policy regarding the future of Abyssinia. The document at length outlines Italy’s plans for the reforming of Abyssinia. It explains that the steps that Italy is taking correspond with those taken by the League Mandatory Powers. It expresses Italy’s readiness to report periodically to the League, but it emphasises that this would be done as a voluntary act, not as a duty. The “Daily Herald’s” Geneva correspondent says: The Italian memorandum appears to be purely a spontaneous gesture, but it actually is an ingenious move, intended to make the lifting of the Sanctions easier. Italy would not admit any right of control over Abyssinia by the League.

SELASSIE’S RECEPTION

(Recd. July 1, 11.30 a.m.) GENEVA, June 30.

The Committee is reported to have rejected the Italian proposal, that the League should recognise a voluntary Italian mandate over Abyssinia. A large, cheering crowd watched the arrival of Selassie at the meeting of the Assembly. The Bureau earlier decided that the Emperor had every right to address the League. Mr. De Valera said that the question could not even be discussed, but the Swiss and Hungarian representatives raised objections. Selassie tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, as he slipped into the hall while Mr. Edon was reading a letter from M. Benes, resigning the Presidency of the'Assembly. The Emperor sat in the place reserved for the Abyssinian delegates, the official list of which included eleven from Abyssinia, headed by “His Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie the First.” The public and Press galleries were crowded, and a battery of film cameras faced the President’s rostrum. This is the first time any Sovereign has participated in a League session. The Emperor listened attentively, as Mr. Eden praised M. Benes’ work, and asked the Assembly to te’egraph its thanks to the Czech President.

When the Negus ascended the tribune, whistling and shouts of “Viva Mussolini!” broke out, and drowned the cheering from the delegates. The session was suspended in a hubbub, -while officials searched for the interrupters. It was discovered that they were a group of a dozen Italian journalists, whom the police seized, .bundled into taxicabs, and took

to the police station. Selassie wus unperturbed, ami stood calmly on the tribune, his eye fixed on the delegates, while awaiting silence.

JOURNALISTS ARRESTED

(Recd. July 1, 3 p.m.). GENEVA, June 30.

An extraordinary scene, unparalleled in the history of the League of Nations, occurred when the Negus ascended the rostrum. Delegates w’ere astounded to hear an outburst of whistling and booing from the galleries and the cry, “Down with the assassin!” They replied by cheering the Emperor. M. Titulescu “Stop that horseplay!” Meantime, Selassie stood, a calm, dignified, immobile figure, amid the tumult. The President was vainly ringing his bell,! while police searched for the offend-. ers.

They fastened upon a group of seven or eight Italian journalists, who, after brief scuffles, were bundled from the building to taxi cabs, amid boos from other journalists and cries of “Down with the > Fascists!” Among those taken to the, police station were Signor Alfredo Signoretti, a director of one of Italy’s newspapers, “Stampa Turin,” Signor Guido Caprin, chief correspondent, of the “Corriere Della Sera,Signor Caiani, president of a syndicate, of/Fascist journals, and Signor Angelli, of the “Lavora Fascista”. . A Spariish’/journaHst taken by mistake, swAs/speedily released. The others/late to-night, were still detained: Swiss officials stated' that, under Swiss .la insult or injury to a visiting head of a .Statje .is punishable by six months’ imprisonment. It is regarded; as.. certain' that the culprits’ League cards will be confiscated. The executive committee of the International Association of Journalists accredited/to th© League passed a resolution condemning . the action of the Italians, and apologising on behalf of the Press to the Emperor and M. Van Zeeland.

Everybody Is Jvondering how Mussolini will react to the incident. The ' Italian Press is left without its own reports of the proceedings. It is being asked whether the appar-ently-organised demonstration portends Italy’s withdrawal from the League. It is thought that meh of , such repute would not act on impulse, and that they must have been told what to do, from Rome. Some were , roughly handled, and one was floored by an usher who is a light-weight champion. NEW PRESIDENT GENEVA, June 30. M. Van Zeeland was elected President of the Assembly, by 47 votes to 3, after which the Italian Note was handed to him. It expresses the conviction that the League requires reform. Italy is willing to co-operate in it," and with the League work, as soon as the present situation is cleared up. LITTLE ENTENTES’ DECISION GENEVA, June 30. The Balkan Little Ententes, at a <■ meeting lasting till the early hours of the morning, decided not to recognise the annexation of Abyssinia, though they agreed to the dropping of Sanctions. Their attitude regarding reform of the Covenant is to agree to its modification only in the direction of strengthening it. //CERMANY’SyDELAYED REPLY. LONDON, June 30. Behind the scenes, the discussions are ranging ovei’ a far and wide field. M. Blum suggested to Mr. Eden that Britain should notify Germany if she does not reply soon to the questionnaire. her answer will be useless. Mr. Eden is believed personally to favour such a move, and is becoming pessimistic about hopes of reaching an understanding with Germany. The Locarno Powers will probably , meet late in July to consider the situation. The /‘Morning /.Post’s’’. Diplomatic Correspondent .says that Mr. Eden was most inipressed/bysM, Blum’s realistic outlook. /Thoy/agree there should be no haste imopening direct negotiations with the League. They consider the next -move in the German issue rests with Hitler, though neither expects a satisfactory answer, to the British questionnaire, and possibly no answer at all. GERMANY PREFERS ARMS.

. BERLIN, June 30. “No institution, nqt eVen the League of Nations, -can organise peace,” declared*Doctor;.Goebbels, in a speech at Stuttgart.',' /• “In the,/Italo-Abyssinian dispute, the League could do nothing, but accept thei 'accomplished; facts. Presumably Germany’s'fate would have been the same if she had been the victim of an aggressive war. Consequently we took a precaution,, on, the principle that the League, jb good, but that air squadrons, and army corps better. Nobody to-day dares to lay before us unfair treaties 5 offensive- to German honour or the German people, because the whole world knows we would nqt sign them.” AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR LONDON, June 30. Mr. Eden will preside at the/Assembly, until a president is •• This is almost certain to be M. Vail J; / Zeeland, as Mr. Bruce is unlikely stand, owing to his duties as dent of the Montreaux' Conference. /■ • To-day’s proceedings were short and formal. A general discussion begins to-morrow, when the Emperor is expected to speak. M. Delbos informed Chancellor Schuschnigg that his presence at Geneva was desirable. Schuschnigg is likely to seek the approval of Mussolini before accepting the invitation. Signor Scoppa paid a round of visits to various delegations, explaining the Italian memorandum. Ras Nasitju as counter-propaganda, made similar calls. Although the Abyssinians will not officially admit it, the "Telegraph” understands that the Emperor has engaged Mollison to fly him to London on the termination of the Assembly. AERIAL CONTROL. • 1 • PARIS,. June 30. Abyssinia will be held by aviation said General Valle, the Italian Un-der-Secretary for Air, in an interview with “Le Journal.” There will be eight aerodromes, 125 miles apart. There will he 300 aeroplanes, 200 of which have already arrived., One hundred fast transport machines are being built which will be capable of transporting 2500 men and one and a-half tons of material a day in case of any insurrection. • KENYA FRONTIER. ./ , _ 1 ROME, June 30. An Italian motor, unit occupied Moyaia, on the Kenya/frontier. Troops are stationed at Mega, ' commanding the caravan route between Abyssinia and Kenya.; ■

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