NOT DEFEATED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 109, 8 April 1936, Page 10

NOT DEFEATED

EMPEROR’S DECLARATION. FAITH IN THE LEAGUE. (United Press Association—By Electric Tel cgrapli.— Copyrigli t.) Received April 7, 12 noon. ADDIS ABABA, April 6. “Ethiopia, is not defeated, but her armies are prepared to fight until not a single aggressor remains in Abyssinia,” declared the Emperor, Haile Selassie, in an interview.

He added: “We are certainly not suing for peace. AVe have accepted, and are ready at any moment to begin, negotiations within the framework of the League and the spirit of the Covenant. Nevertheless, there has already been delay in arranging the 'negotiations which the Committee of Thirteen suggested. AVe are also disappointed at the continual non-appli-cation of' effective sanctions, which would end a cruel war.

“Italy, despite her pledge not to resort to such means, is utilising the delay to employ the most horrible and barbarous methods, resulting in open towns being bombed and peaceful citizens far from the fronts, where it is impossible to plead military necessity, being cruelly burned by gas. Nevertheless, despite the overwhelming odds and manifold atrocities, the morale of our troops and people is excellent. The Italian allegations to the contrary are odious lies, circulated in order to influence League members during the negotiations. “AVe are convinced that the League has not abandoned collective security, but will admit the justice of the Abyssinian cause and will demand immediate and effective sanctions on beha.lf of a loyal member,” the Emperor added.

BOMBING OF TOWNS,

BRITAIN’S CONCERN. SEEKING A SETTLEMENT. (British Official Wireless.) Received April 7, 11.55 a.m. RUGBY; April 6. Mr R. A. Eden (Foreign Minister) will lead the British delegation at the meeting of the Committee of Thirteen of the League of Nations on Wednesday at Geneva to receive the report of the chairman who, with the Secretary-General of the League, was requested to approach the Italian and Abyssinian Governments in order to enable the Committee to bring the parties together with a view to the restoration of peace. Another matter upon which the Committee awaits information from Senor Madariaga has reference to the result of the representations made by him to the Italian Government on tile subject of gas-warfare. Mr Eden, in reply to House of Commons questions on the war f in Abyssinia said that recent events made it clearly desirable that the Committee of Thirteen should be called together without delay. Replying to the suggestion that a commission should be appointed to recommend a settlement of the ItaloEtliiopian dispute, Mr Eden recalled that in September the League’s Committee of Five made a careful and thorough investigation into the origin of, and the issues involved and worked out in great detail, of the plan for a just and equitable settlement. Mr Eden said, as to bombing *open towns, in view of the importance of guarding against the violations of the laws and customs of war relating to the protection of .non-combatants, the Government were making urgeni representations that the complaints of the Ethiopian Government should receive immediate attention from the appropriate organ of the League.