SANCTIONS URGED

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 September 1935, Page 8

SANCTIONS URGED

Trades Union Council Demands Joint Anglo=French Front TANGLE OVER CONCESSIONS PUBLIC DISCUSSION AT GENEVA tOnlted Prem Association—By Electric Telegraph . Copyright). Received 3 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Sept. 3. At a meeting of the Nile Society, organised "on behalf of Abyssinia, Dr. Martin, Abyssinian Minister in London, said that if the worst came to the worst Ethiopians would rather be under Britain’s just, considerate administration than Italy’s. The General Trades Union Council met at Margate and sent a message to mass meetings at Paris declaring that the English and French Labour movements unitedly demand that their Governments shall at the Leagiie meeting uphold all the obligations laid down by the covenant. This was read at each of four Paris meetings organised by a committee for the defence of the Ethiopian peoples. The resolution was sent to Geneva, calling on the League to take sanctions if Italy broke the covenant. Sir Norman Angel], addressed three meetings, asserting that sanctions meant peace ,not war, urging AngloFrench co-operation, in the face of which Italy would not provoke military action. Messrs. Hitchins and Jervis, civil engineers, and Mr Leo. Y. Chertok’s London . advisers for • British capitalists interested in his concession, said that hia group existed long before the present situation arose. Dr. Martin wrote to Mr CShertok on July 19 confirming an option on an offer of fifty years’ mineral concessions in consideration of a million-dollar loan, but the concessions would not be granted until the money was produced. The territories involved have yet to be defined, which means that the concession will not clash with Mr Riekett’s. The Abyssinian Government officially states that it is fully entitled to grant a concession to Mr R.ickett and professes ignorance of the Chertok concession. Mr A. Eden and MM. Laval and Avenol have decided that Italy’s dispute with Abyssinia shall be publicly discussed. The French and British proposals already rejected by Signor Mussolini still remain open. The Italian-Ethiopian commission has decided that no direct responsibility attaches to Italy or Abyssinia for the Walwal incident. Observers i are of opinion that this verdict may prevent Italy using the Walwal incident against Abyssinia at Geneva.