DUCE IN FRIENDLY MOOD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 June 1936, Page 5

DUCE IN FRIENDLY MOOD.

READY FOR LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS. NO FOUNDATION FOR MR. EDEN’S RESIGNATION. <By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) Received Wednesday, 2 a.m. LONDON, June 16. The Sun-Herald’s correspondent says a section of the Press con tinues to suggest grave Cabinet differences in connection with the forth-coming sanctions decision and that Mr. Eden’s resignation xs imminent. Such rumours, however, are without foundation and are primarily designed to force Mr. Eden from the Cabinet but are unlikely to succeed. When Mr. Eden announces the abandonment of sanctions on Thursday he will outline Mussolini’s memorandum which says that ■apart from accepting any diminution in Italian sovereignty in Abyssinia the Italians are ready to meet Britain’s desires in every possible way. Assurances will be given that henceforth Italy belongs territorially to the “satisfied” Powers. The Duce pledges himself not to raise a Black army in Abyssinia, (declaring that he has no further African territorial ambitions. The Duce is also ready to conclude a Mediterranean Pact with Britain and France accompanied by a limitation of naval armaments to include Greece and Turkey if they desire. Further, Italy is ready to support the British viewpoint for a reform of the League Covenant. The Italians intimate that in the event of Britain rejecting collaboration they will turn to Germany.

HOME PUSHES FOR FURTHER CONCESSIONS. AGGRESSION VERDICT MUST BE WITHDRAWN. Received Tuesday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, June 16. The Morning Post's political correspondent says Mr. Eden's speech in the Commons on June 18 announcing the Government’s decision to propose the raising of sanctions will follow closely on the lines of Mr. Neville Chamberlain’s speech on June 11. He will point out that sanctions failed either to prevent or to end the Abyssinian war or to preserve the independence of Abyssinia, and in view of this there is no logical or practical justification ru maintaining them. There have been no Cabinet differences regarding this. The only hesitancy has been whether Britain should 'ead at Geneva or leave the initiative to the Assembly. The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent says semi-official circles are now declaring that the lifting of sanctions will not be enough to allow Italy to again collaborate in European affairs. They are suggesting that a more positive gesture is needed, namely, the simultaneous reversal of the League’s aggression verdict.

Debate on Thursday (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 15. There will be a debate in the House of Commons on Thursday ou Foreign Affairs in which a statement will be made on the Government’s policy in the present international situation. Replying to a large number of questions in the House of Commons this -afternoon, all directed to obtain a definition of the Government’s attitude in view of the discussions aroused by the Chancellor of the Exchequer ’s recent speech, Mr. Anthony Eden (Foreign Secretary) said that the Government desired an early debate. “On that occasion I shall be prepared to state the views of his Majesty’s ■Government as to action which is to be taken collectively at meetings of the •Council and the Assembly of the League of Nations on June 20 and June 30 respectively,” he said. The leader of the Opposition (Major Attlee) then gave notice that the Labour Party would ask for a debate on Thursday, and later the Prime Minister (Mr. Stanley Baldwin) intimated that the Government would accept this re -quest.