ITALY DEFENDED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 266, 24 October 1935, Page 8

ITALY DEFENDED

PEER MAKES SENSATION “Tall Stories from Geneva” SENSATIONAL LORDS SPEECH By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, Oct. 23. “It is a wicked thing to send arms to cruel, brutal men in Abyssinia while denying them to a people who are playing an honourable part,” said Lord Mottlstone in the course of a sensational speech in the House of Lords in fulfilment of his recent appeal to the Government not to remove the embargo against the export of arms to Abyssinia until he had made a statement. Lord Mottistone said he happened to know that increased quantities of arms and ammunition were likely to be exported at any moment to Abyssinia. This was so wicked and wrong that he did not think Britain as a whole would want to be party to it.

“Do you suppose tin li<L.:.us will regard this action calmly I” he asked, and proceeded to reveal an exchange of telegrams with General de Bono, surprising the House. Lord Mottistono said he had telegraphed General de Bono asking him us one soldier to another whether it was true or false that he was capturing slaves,' men, women aud children; whether it was true that anyone attempting to resist raids in Abyssinia was murdered, tortured or mutilated; whether it was true or false that hundreds of thousands of Abyssinians were so willing to be delivered that they had overcome their dread of the white man and had not cared who delivered them from awful slavery. General de Bono had replied with n most emphatic denial of reports from Addis Ababa concerning aerial bombing or ill-treatment of the populace. He denied the “tall statements from Geneva concerning destruction and massacres.”

General de Bono had said that the Italian Command would endeavour to compensate for property damaged in the course of the advance, which had been welcomed with touching enthusiasm by religious authorities and natives, who every day greeted the Italians with sympathy.

Geucral de Bono had stated that he had found the Abyssinians in a state of utter misery, under-fed and ill. The Italian Command had freed all slaves in occupied areas and had takeu measures to eradicate slavery. This work would be carried on with the advance Every assistance was given the needy and starving populace. Lord Mottistone added that three days ago General Badoglio, Chief ol tho General Staff, had telegraphed Signor Mussolini saying that he had been told that a blockade .such as closing the Suez Canal was likely to be put into operation shortly. General Badoglio had said that such a blockade would be a great embarrassment to him because, although he had enough food collected to last his whole army and navy foi ■months, he did not see how he could also feed the 120,000 men, women and children who had now come under his protection. Signor Mussolini, said Lord Mottistone, had replied, to his eternal honour: “Wo must take that risk, and continue to feed the native populace as before.’’ This communication had not been made public, but Lord Mottistone was being allowed to use it. The slaves freed now numbered, according to his latest information, about 20,000, and about 20,000 riflemen had also been taken. “The position is,” said Lord Mottistone, “that we are sending arms to about a million bloodthirsty tyrants while denying arms and supplies to the Italian army with over a hundred thousand mouths to fill.” If people suggested that there was no truth in these reports, it was a simple matter to discover 'he truth. He suggested that a swift cruiser or aeroplane with a commission of three people go to Eritrea. There they could see Italian officers and Abyssinian prisoners and ascertain the tpith. They could interview Kas Gougta, who had surrendered to the ttiltaus, and tad tits opinion. l ord Mottistone suggested that the commission consist of an Englishman of high authority, a Frenchman and a British representative of the AntiSlavery Society. The debate was adjourned without Government comment on the speech Lord Mottistone (formerly MajorGeneral .1. E. B. Seeley) served during the South African war and t’e Gre ■ War. In various Cabinets he has been I'nder Secretory for Colonies, t inier Secretary for War, Undersecretary for Air, Under-Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions, and Secretary for War. His books include “Adventure,” aud ‘' Fear and be Slain.