IMPERIALIST RIVALRY

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1935, Page 5

IMPERIALIST RIVALRY

FRENCH VIEW Of Abyssinian Issue (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received August 13. at 9 p-mj LONDON, August 13. “The Times’s’’ Paris correspondent says: “A conviction is growing in France that the Italo-Abyssinian dispute is becoming an Anglo-Italian contest owing to Italy’s intention to dominate the Mediterranean Sea. The French believe tilin' Britain has en oyed her undisturbed naval control of the Mediterranean on sufferance, but that her position has been reduced by technical, and political developments, and that Italy is now convinced of the importance of claiming au acknowledged, if not a predominant, share in the control of the Mediterranean Sea. Iler appearance at the source of the Nile, giving a strategic key to the Nile Valiev is an obvious step towards it'. ’ ’ TERRITORY question. ROME, August 12. Official circles scout the supposed Abvssiniau offer to cede a portion of Ogaden to Italy, bi.it Emperor Selassie now explains his offer to cede teriitory in exchange for economic advantages. did not apply to Ogaden. but' referred to Mr Eden’s suggestion regarding Zeyla. Abyssinian Stand NO CONCESSIONS. (Received August 13, at. 9.10 1 p.m.) (Copyright Reserved.) ’ LONDON, August' 13. The “Times’s’’ special correspondent, at Addis Ababa says: It is no repossible to indicate the Abyssinian Emperor’s policy more clearly. He will accept uo arrangement which limits in any way the Sovereignty of Abyssinia, or which affects her political independence, or her territorial integrity. He would, it is believed, accept economic or social aid from the League, hut will not accept any mandate °r any solution outside of the framework of the League Covenant. It is officially denied that the Emperor has offered to cede any territory against economic advantages but the idea of an exchange of territory still appears to be acceptable to linn.’’

ABYSSINIAN EMPEROR'S STATEMENT. ADDIS ABABA. August. 12. The Emperor, in a speech, said: Danger of war is becomng more and more serious, but we still place hope in the League, especially Britain, which is always ready to defend the rights of other nations. If wal comes. Ethiopia will defend the country to the last drop of blood. Italian Exchange Held Up BRITISH EXPORTERS AWAIT CASH. LONDON, August 13. Tyneside coal exporters seriously regard the Italian indebtedness, totalling £500.000. twelve firms are involved. .Exporters decline further commit' ments and a number of Druham collieries are consequently suffering a shortage of work LONDON, August 13. Exporters at Tyneside and in South Wales are severely hit by a delay in payments from Italy. Italian exchange to the amount of £1,700,000 awaits transfer into sterling. The bulk of this sum is owing to British coal. exporters. GENERAL SMUTS’ VIEW. ITALY’S OBSTACLES GREAT. IS OCCUPATION POSSIBLE ? . • CAPETOWN August 12. Renewal Smuts, interviewed, said that he considered the whole system of civilisation would he shaken to its foundations if the League failed to avert war. The world wou’d revert to the old system of alliance. Europe. would be' divided once more into hostile camps. A great conflict in Africa on the borders) of British territory must lead to serious repercussions, and raise anxious feelings between whites and blacks with serious results. There was no doubt there were some points of contact between Abyssinia and Japan not yet disclosed. In some curious way. the African question may get linked with the Asiatic. It is quite possible that Italy wi'l overwhelm Abyssinia at first with aeroplanes and gas, but it is another thing to occupy the country. LONDON. August 12.

The Sydney “Sun-Herald ’’ service says: The flesh of nations tends to creep at the repeated stories from Rome of the terrible efficiency of the Italian Army and Air Force, and the likelihood of the Abyssinians, who are preparing for the conflict by sharpening swords and oiling obsolete muskets, being drenched with poison gas. General Smuts has warned the Italians that they may bite off more than they can chew seeing it is one thing to overwhelm the country and another to occupy it, but Air circles have no doubt that when the Italians release the b'oodiest air terror in history it will bring the campaign to a swift climax. The most decisive factor is) expected to be a fleet of high-power-ed bombers, dropping six hundred tons of high explosive daily, shattering the Abyssinian resistance, and driving the forces back, to permit the unrestricted advance of the Italian ground army. Italy at the beginning of 1935. possessed 1,507 front line aeroplanes, but has considerably reconstituted since, including the construction of bombers. The Abyssinians’ handful of fighting machines are mostly antiquated and could offer only the weakest' resistance against the Italian machines.

Italian Troops PASSAGE THROUGH CANAL. MANY INVALIDS RETURNED. (Received August. 13. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 13. The Alexandra correspondent of the “Times” says: The passage of Italian

reinforcements through tHe Suez Canal to Eritrea is proceeding apace. Transports pass Port Said daily. There also pass Greek and Danish cargo ships with munitions (and other supplies, including beer. The beer is brought as wine has been found to be too heating for the troops. Most of the transport movement is done alt night time. The ships are berthed well away from the town at Port Said, particularly, the ships returning to Italy with invalids. It i s estimated tha)t the homeward bound hospital snips have already carried over five thousand cases of malaria and dysentery, and a few typhoid cases. No soldiers are being allowed ashore from the transports.