GENEVA DEVELOPMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 112, 13 April 1936, Page 7

GENEVA DEVELOPMENTS.

MORE HOPEFUL FEATURES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. April 11. The morning papers, while showing no disposition to minimise the international difficulties, which the proceedings at Geneva have brought into relief rather than merger! in any promise of solution, exnress satisfaction at two items of yesterdav's news. The decision of the representatives of the Locarno Po»p« other than Germany that, in the words of the communique . issued at, Geneva, last night, "it is desirable completely to explore all opportunities of conciliation" and that, while these Powers note that "the German Government has not made a contribution to the re-establishment of confidence indispensable for the negotiation of new treaties," Germany is to be asked to elucidate points in her recent memorandum is welcomed, and the.more so because reports from Geneva, indicate that the original view of the" French representatives was in favour of an attitude, which, to the British public, would have seemed much less constructive and hopeful. ; The- Times says that the British representatives are much to be congratulated on this promising achievement.

The other = decision yesterday which is favourably received is the fixing of the reassembly of the Committee of Thirteen for next Thursday, which Geneva.correspondents make clear was the result of the firm attitude of the British representative. Both parties to the. .dispute having accepted peace negotiations in principle several weeks ago, British opinion would look with dismay on any procedure likely to delay the cessation of hostilities, the horrors of which increase as the campaign proceeds. Exceptions to the above are the Daily Mail and Daily Express. The former sums up its leading article in tliQ phrase “sanctions mean war, British aeroplanes mean peace,” and the latter shows concern at reports from Geneva that the Committee of Eighteen may meet it next Thursday Senor .Madariaga cannot make a promising statement to the Committee of Thirteen on the result of his efforts to bring the Italian and Ethiopian negotiators together. ' There is no surprise in London at tlie wildly irresponsible accusations by Signor Gay da regarding tlie supply of poison gas to Abyssinians from British sources. Experience of Italian Press attacks on Britain during the past year had prepared opinion for the latest and most ludicrous example. * ■The explanation of the reported gas casualties among Abyssinians by the suggestion that they were the result of inexpert attempts by Abyssinians to use against the Italians chemicals supplied by named subsidiaries of the British firm of Imperial Chemical Industries read curiously in conjunction with the fact to which Mr Eden drew attention at the meeting of the Committee of Thirteen that the Italian Government liacl declared 259 tons of poison gas in transit through the Suez Canal. Imperial Ohemical Industries has considered it desirable, however, to state that allegations concerning tlie supplying of poison gas to Abyssinians are false im all respects ns tar as it is concerned. It is uiideitt.yid that the companies named by Signor Gayda either do not exist or are unconnected with Imperial Chemical The Board of Trade also denied the action attributed to it by Signor Gayda.