PARIS CONFERENCE

Grey River Argus, 13 August 1935, Page 5

PARIS CONFERENCE

EUROPEAN UNITY An Underlying Issue (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.j LONDON, August 11. The “Observer’s” diplomatic correspondent anticipates that the British-French-Italian conference will con•tinue for a week. H o discloses that the British delegation will include a representative of the Egyptian Department of the Foreign Office, owing to the anxiety regarding Lake Tsana. The correspondent adds: Th e concentration of I alia is nt Eritrea *>uggests tne 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 the Sudan. Moreover, Britain would thereby be faced with a fait accompli in a district reserved to herself in the Anglo-Italian treaty of 1926. Mr Eden, who has been on holiday for a few days in Yorkshire, is expected back in London on Monday. On 'Tuesday ho leaves for Paris, 'where- he will represent Britain in the threePower conversations.

LONDON, August 11. The “Manchester Guardian’s’’ Geneva correspondent says: Instead of an extraordinary session of (ho Council being convened on September 4the Council will meet on that date to discuss the ordinary agenda, on which th o Abyssinian m«atter ranks twentysecond, enabling a postponement of ‘he Abyssinian discussions until the end of September. This appears to be a further concession to Mussolini, and will enable Italy to be represented at the opening of the Council and to retire if she chooses when rhe Abyssinian question arises. PARTS. August TL Although it is suggested that M. Laval would go To considerable length to retain Italian friendship, patched up after great efforts in January, sue.n impression is qualified by reports in financial circles that measures weretaken to prevent the Bank of Prance and other institutions granting credits to Italy. It is believed that the Ital tan newspapers’ more reasonable attitude is due to the realisation that France will not support Italy beyond n. certain point. The fact that Sir R. Vansittart is accompanying Mr Edon to Paris is welcomed, as it is believed that 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. PARTS, August 11. Emperor Selassi, interviewed by the Ifavas News Agency’s representative n't- Addis Ababa, expressed a willingness to cede a portion of Ogaden. in exchange for loans, and a seaport, although he declared the conditions must be ful’v discussed. AUCKLAND. August 12. There are fourteen New Zealanders doing medical missionarv work in Abyssinia, according to Mr Charles IT. Barton, who himself was formerly a missionary there. Tie 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 15th. His opinion was that Abyssinia, owing to natural geographical defences, was in 'a good position to resist a'ttac.k. He. cbu n d not see that, aircraft attack offered a sut p . solution of the problems of an invader.