HOPE OF CONCILIATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 247, 16 September 1935, Page 7

HOPE OF CONCILIATION.

THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE. SEARCHING ALL AVENUES. (British Official Wireless.) Received September 16, 10.58 a.m. RUGBY, Sept. 14. The continued hope of conciliation in the Italo-Abyssinian dispute which was expressed by M. Laval in the League Assembly has directed renewed attention to the work of the Committee of Five. Its sub-committee was closely engaged yesterday on an examination of the proposals for settlement, and their work continues. It is not expected that their report will be ready for presentation to the Council before Monday. The proposals upon which the subcommittee is at work are based oil the principles and suggestions made during the Paris negotiations, with the introduction of certain new elements, but there is no question of any concession that would involve Abyssinia’s sovereign rights and political independence.

Broadly stated, the aim of the Paris proposals was to give to Abyssinia that collective assistance for which she asks to facilitate her social and economic development. The newspapers state that this would be coupled with certain territorial concessions to Italy and provision for securing Abyssinian access to the sea. The proposals provided for collective guarantees of stability for any arrangements entered into, and it is contemplated that tlie whole plan would be exercised in the name of the League. The original proposals will probably be found to depart from those under consideration at Paris in several respects, but in particular the possibility or carrying out a scheme by expansion ot the Three-Power Treaty of 1906 into a Four-Power Treaty with Abyssinia as a signatory appears to have been dropped ill favour of what would be essentially a League solution.