MEANING OF FRANCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 247, 16 September 1935, Page 8

MEANING OF FRANCE

3.15 P.M. EDITION

IN M. LAVAL’S SPEECH. UNCERTAINTY CREATED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received September 16, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 15. “I would be better pleased if there had not been such a diversity of interpretation of M. Laval’s meaning,’’said Mr Lloyd George at Llandrindod Wells. “With peace jeopardised, the cause of international right and the League imperilled it is pre-eminently a case where its meaning sliould not be doubted. Yet the speech by tlie leader oi one of the greatest nations of the world, which momentarily holds the key to tlie posw tion, causes somo to say M. Laval supported Sir Samuel Hoare and meant sanctions; others, equally holiest, say he carefully refrained from discussing sanctions. I ask: Have the Powers an understanding regarding what will happen if conciliation fails ? “Signor Mussolini has not deceived Europe. He has always meant to invade Abyssinia. Why didn’t the League act promptly when it saw the situation working up?. Why, when Signor Mussolini, with bared teeth, intends shortly to bury them in the Ethiopian throat, is the League tentatively hanging back while we place an embargo on everything enabling the Abyssimaus to defend themselves? Soon sanctions, if devised, will be worthless, because Signor Mussolini will have in Africa everything necessary for conducting a most ruthless massacre of helpless people. “Another danger is the attempt to force on Abyssinia a compromise which is practically a surrender to Signor Mussolini. If the League must die, let it die reputably, remembered at the worst for its harmless ineptitude and not abhorred for turpitude.”

FEROCIOUS THREATS

ABYSSINIANS TAKE THE OATH,

Received September 16, 1.20 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 15. The Times Adis Ababa correspondent, in a copyright message, says: Two thousand itinerant merchants, assembled in St.' Giorghi’s square with rifles and cartridge belts, listened to fiery speeches and marched to the Palace prior to mobilisation. The Emperor promised to redress their grievances regarding Government posts and received a promise of full military support, after which grandees administered the oath of loyalty amid ferocious threats of mutilation and death to all invaders.