HOPES DISPELLED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 119, 21 April 1936, Page 7

HOPES DISPELLED

SIGNING OF ARMISTICE. ITALY’S DEMANDS AT GENEVA. ABYSSINIA IN REPLY. (United Press Association—-By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received April 21, 10.40 a.m. GENEVA, April 20. Mr S. M. Bruce (Australia) opened the public session of the League Council. Senor Madariaga (Spain) read the Committee of Thirteen's report, alter which Baron Aloisi (Italy; addressed the Council. Ho attempted to throw the whole blame for tne failure ol negotiations on Ethiopia, declaring that Italy ail along had shown willingness to conform with the wishes of' tlio League by conducting negotiations. Baron Aloisi dispelled all hopes of an armistice, declaring that n was only possible if they were assured of Italian occupation of all centres of i mobilisation, including tlio capital. He said: The construction of 4000 kilometres of roads, 50 hospitals, anu numerous schools, the suppression ol slavery, and the prohibition of child labour testify to the civil value of our military victory in Abyssinia. Baron Aloisi protested against the suggested inquiry into the Italian use of poison gas, declaring that Italy claimed the right of reprisals against Abyssinian atrocities. Mr Wolde Mariam (Abyssinian Minister) contended that Italy had never intended to negotiate within the framework of the Teague,- and protested against the continued incessant delays in the help to which* Abyssinia was entitled as a victim of unjustifiable aggression. Mr Wolde Mariam asked the Council fully to apply Article 16, preventing aggression triumphing. The Council adjourned at 3 p.m. After the adjournment of the public meeting, Mr Bruce, Senor Madariaga, M. Paul Boncour, Mr It. A. Eden and M. Avenol met in private to draft the resolution. It is understood they considered the resolution prepared by the Scandinavian countries, Holland, and Spain attributing failure of the peace negotiations to Italy and appealing to Italy to conclude the war in a manner worthy of a member of the League Council. The afternoon session was preceded by a private . meeting, at which the Council decided to leave the question of the resolution until the general discussion was finished. Baron Aloisi asked leave to make a declaration. He protested against the statement that Mr Wolde Mariam made in the morning that Italy was seeking an exact price for her cooperation in Europe. He added that conciliation- had failed not for lack of effort, but because of the Abyssinian attitude. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. Mr Eden, announcing that Britain was prepared to accept new sanctions, said: If the poison gas protocol can be torn up liow can the peoples of densely populated Western Europe be certain that they won’t be torn to pieeefe, blinded, and done to death in agony ? Britain feels the danger so deeply that she asks the Council to recall to every member of tlie League the obligations of the protocol. Moreover, tire Covenant must be binding and inescapable in its obligations to enable lasting peace. If a nation violates it there can be no faith in international obligations. We are faced with grave decisions. Every Government must clearly state its policy. Britain retains lier faith in the League as the best instrument at present available for the preservation of peace. If the utility of the League is placed in doubt eaeli nation 'will have to consider separate action. M. Boncour associated himself with Mr Eden’s remarks about poison gas, but added that it was impossible to humanise war. There was little hope, once war started, of enforcing limits. EFFORTS MUST GO ON. After other speeches, Baron Aloisi, in his third speech of the day, recalled that Italy had long ago denounced the Abyssinian atrocities against Italian soldiers, workmen and women. He .added: If these bad then been denounced by Mr Eden and world opinion had been, aroused the war might have been conducted on a more humane plane. Mr Wolde Mariam said the Abyssinians would reply in writing to-’these remarks. Mr Bruce, winding up, 6aid the nations must continue their pressure to end aggressi.on. “If it is abandoned it will be a fatal blow to the whole principle of collective action, and to the rule of law in human affairs,” he declared.