MAKING READY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 231, 28 August 1935, Page 7

MAKING READY

FOR LEAGUE MEETING. MINISTERS AT WORK. NATION GALLED TO PRAYER. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 28, 10.55 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 27. The Foreign Secretary (Sir Samuel Hoare) and Mr R. A. Eden both returned to work at the Foreign Office to-day. Among the other business which will occupy them during the next few days is an examination of the aspects of the Italo-Abyssinian dispute, which will come before the League Council to-morrow week.

It will be recalled that, at the end of the Council meeting on August 3, Mr Eden, referring to the proposed three-Power conversations at Paris, said: “I will inform the Council at its next meeting of the result of these endeavours.” The form of the report which he will make to the Council will bo one of the questions to which the two Ministers will have to give attention, and it is likely that, as Air Eden has been associated with M. Laval as a joint rapporteur before the Council on the Abyssinian appeal, th© French Premier will be consulted in this matter. In any case, tlie British and French Governments will remain -n touch through diplomatic channels in regard to the situation in accordance with the policy announced in Paris on August 18. M. Laval is 'reported to have had interviews to-day with both the British Ambassador and the I talian Ambassador, seeing the latter twice. Meantime, Press messages from Rome indicate the intention of the Italian Government to conform with the League procedure at tlie forthcoming Council, where tlie Italian delegate (Baron Aloisi) will have instructions to make a full statement of the Italian case in reply to the Abyssinian appeal.

CALL FOR PRAYER. The Arelibishop of Canterbury and the Moderator oi tlie feneration ol Evaugeucal 1< ice diuretics have issued a joint call lor prayer m connection witu Uio Italo-iiuyssimaii dispute.

They recall the fateful meeting of the .League Council on September -l> and deciare tnat tnc grave issues witn winch it lias to deal concern not omy tlie possibility ol war between Italy and Abyssinia, with all tlie consequences which may lollow from it, but also the continuance of the League itself as an eueetive instrument of international peace and order and the alternative to international anarchy, they ash that, on next Sunday, prayers may bo oiierud ill all the churches throughout the country, that “the “Spirit of God may give wisdom and courage to the members of the Council so that by tlieir action, even now, war may be averted and in any event the cause of justice and respect for treaties may be vindicated.”

BRITAIN AT_ GENEVA. PROBABLE EXTENT OF ACTION

Received August 28, 9 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 27. The views of Air W. Al. Hughes on the Italian situation were given prominence in the London Press, but nowhere is isolated action oil the part of Britain against Italy desired or contemplated. This lias been emphasised in all recent statements. The maximum action to which Britain is likely to be committed is that of taking the initiative at Geneva in proposing, in certain conditions, that the nations refuse to supply raw materials and credits to Italy. Even this, it is hoped, may be avoided by a joint Anglo-French resolution.

IF LEAGUE FAILS. LIE ELY AIR ATTACK.

ON ADDIS ABABA

LONDON, Aug. 27. Tlie Daily Mail’s Rome correspondent says “that as the end of the rainy season approaches Italy is speeding un the dispatch of troops to East Africa. Two thousand more sailed irom Naples on Monday. All pleasure cruises from Italian ports have been stopped, enabling more vessels to be available.

The News-Chronicle’s Addis Ababa correspondent says that, it the League fails to avert war, it is believed that Italy’s attack will start with a mass air raid on Addis Ababa beginning at 6 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. The first relays of Italian aeroplanes would probably approach the capital under cover of darkness.

Sir Percival Phillips, from Addis Ababa, reports that, influenced by a provisional notice of evacuation, hundreds of natives are returning to the country. The Government lias rounded up tlie city’s idlers Uind drafted them to the Ogaden army. Arms and ammunition from the Palace depot were issued almost furtively last night to troops outside the city to avoid alarming the populace.

ITALIAN CABINET MEETS NEW PEACE PROPOSALS.

11EAL [STIC MANOE U VRES

LONDON, Aug. 26

The News-Chronicle’s Bolzano correspondent says that Signor Mussolini has called a special meeting of Cabinet to he held at Bolzano on August 28. Most members of Cabinet are already at Bolzano participating in tlie manoeuvres.

The purpose of the meeting is unknown. Only administrative questions will he discussed, not Abyssinia, but it would be in keeping with Signor Mussolini’s sense of the dramatic to make some pronouncement regarding his intentions in Abyssinia while surrounded by troops in tlie north of Italy. The Morning Post’s Bolzano correspondent says that it is believed the Cabinet lias been called together to consider new British and French peace proposals. Meanwhile the Foreign Office officials at Rome are preparing the Italian ease against Abyssinia for presentation t,o the League Council on September 4. It is understood that Italy will argue that Abyssinia should be expelled from the. League. Mr Ward P rice, who is attached to Signor Mussolini’s personal stair during the manoeuvres, cabling to tlie Daily Mail from Verona, reveals that infantry advances are being made behind a “creeping barrage” of live shells and machine-guns firing hall cartridges. This is obviously dangerous, but Signor Mussolini emphasies that it is necessary to accustom the soldiers to real war conditions. Signor Mussolini is reported to ho

caLling up Marcliese Marconi for special service in Abyssinia.

LABOUR LEADERS MEET ANGLO-FRENCH MOVE.

(Times Cables.) LONDON, Aug. 27. The Paris correspondent of the Times says that the week-end meeting of Major C. R. Attlee, deputyleader of the British Labour Party, and M. Blum, the French Socialist leader, at Paris, is arousing interest,' as it is believed that they discussed the possibility of joint British and French Labour action should either the League or the Governments concerned fail to avert an Abyssinian war. The jrroposed action, it is suggested, might include refusal to handle essential supplies consigned to Italy. The Socialist Press openly advocates such action, but the rest of the French Press is anxiously deprecating any discussion of possible action that could be taken in the event of a Geneva breakdown on the ground that the Italian attitude will thus further bo hardened.

The semi-official paper, Le Temps, goes even further, declaring that since unanimity is required at Geneva it is in any case premature to talk of sanctions. REPORTED ARREST. BRITISH INDIAN SUBJECTS. ADEN, Aug. 27. A message from M ass aw a states that fifteen Indians, British subjects, axe reported to have been arrested by the Italians because they telegraphed to Aden advising business associates not to ship further merchandise to Massawa. WOMEN’S WAR WORK. MAKING OF BANDAGES. The Ethiopian Women’s Work Association is in operation. The president is the Emperor’s daughter, Princess Tsahai, aged 15, who speaks fluently English, French and German. Meetings are being held for the making of bandages and other useful -war work. Reporters were admitted to the lofty throne room to hear a speech by the Emperor, who was seated on a cushioned divan with a crimson canopy supported by gilded pillars. 'I he ceremony, which was brief but impressive, was expressly designed to warn the Powers negotiating in Paris of the futility of proposing a solution involving an infringement of Abyssinian territory, sovereignty or independence. “But,” tlie Emperor said, ‘Christians should not despair. , The Emperor emphasised Ethiopia s hope for peace, and its willingness to collaborate with other Powers in the furtherance of the social and economic development of Ethiopia.