ODDS AGAINST HIM

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 119, 4 May 1936, Page 7

ODDS AGAINST HIM

Tributes to Seilassie’s Gallant Stand BRITISH COMMENTS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, May 3. The "Sunday Dispatch" pays a tribute to Haili Sellassic as a gallant wari rjcr, a skilful statesman and a patriot worthy of the highest rank in history. "His stand against modern arms has been an inspiring epic of heroism and endurance and deserves all honour iu inevitable defeat,” says iho ’‘Dispatch.” "Wherever he seeks a refuge ho will be welcomed. There is not a part of the British realm whore he would not be afforded a friendly eauctuary.” The "Sunday Times" editorially described Haili Sellassie’s Hight as au extremely grave international event which may prove to be the death-blow to Abyssinia’s independence. "Meanwhile," it continues, "one lesson to be learnt from the Abyssinian tragedy is the League’s glaring failure, necessitating reorganisation in order to prevent war among members of the League.”

According to the "Sunday Times’ ’ diplomatic correspondent, Haili Sellassie has definitely abdicated and transferred control to his Ministers. The Emperor’s sudden change of mind was due to men on whom he was relying for further efforts refusing to fight. Moreover, he was compelled to recognise that his personal safety might be endangered in journeying through somewhat unfriendly portions of Abyssinia before he could reach a point where fresh resistance could be organised. Mr Anthony Eden, Foreign Minister, after a conference with Foreign Office officials lasting five hours 40 minutes, begun after the receipt of Sir Sidney Barton’s telegram, travelled to Leamington to attend a constituents’ dinner, where ho said: "Many of you, like myself, have your thoughts iu Africa. I have only one observation to make in regard to it: We have played our part not on behalf of any Imperial interests or selfish motives, but because, as members of the League Signatories’ Covenant, we had obligations which were shared by other members of the League. Whatever the lessons of the last seven months, wo must be prepared to profit thereby in a spirit of realism, steadily pursuing the constant purpose of British foreign policy, which is the maintenance of peace."