SIGNOR MUSSOLINI STOPS TO THINK

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1935, Page 7

SIGNOR MUSSOLINI STOPS TO THINK

RETIREMENT TO CASTLE

LEAGUE’S DELICATE TASK

PREVENTION OF RUPTURE.

FREE HAND FOR MR EDEN.

l“The Times” Cable.} (Received 9 a.m.)

LONDON, July 25,

The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” states that Signor Mussolini has retired to his castle at Rocca Della Caminape for reflection. In the meanwhile his conversations with the British and French Ambassadors have been indefinitely postponed. Consequently, Mr Eden is going to Geneva at the end of this week almost with a free hand, and instructed to employ his personality and find an eleventh-hour agreement, which it is considered will be impossible afterwards. •

Mr Eden is to use his discretion at each stage of the League’s proceedings. He will be empowered as a last resort to state that Britain adheres to her covenanted obligations if the other signatories agree. , The Government has abandoned hopes of an Anglo-Italo-French conference under the 1906 treaty.

France agrees with the British attitude.

The meeting of the Council of the League of Nations to consider the dispute between Italy and’ Abyssinia is now expected to be held on July 31. The political correspondent of “The Times” says the British Government regards this question as the most important on the Council’s agenda. It is felt that the increasingly serious turn this dispute has taken and the Abyssinian Government’s appeal to the League involve an extension of the discussion to the whole field of the relations between Italy and Abyssinia. Powers Conferred.

It is pointed out that the Abyssinian appeal could equally well be discussed under Article XI or Article XV of the Covenant. Article XI empowers the League to take action against war or a threat of war, and Article XV prescribes the procedure to be followed where a dispute between two members of the League is likely to lead to a rupture. , The British Government hopes this procedure will be followed, also that Italy, besides being represented at the meeting, will fully state her claims and grievances against Abyssinia. A special correspondent of- “The Times” at Addis Ababa says the Abyssinian Government is still prepared to contribute to a; constructive solution of the dispute by making territorial concessions in exchange for land, or even for financial assistance. Also, it is ready to discuss a railway .project west of Addis Ababa. However, it is determined not to allow a njilitary zone or even a neutral zone.

Economic concessions also would be discussed, but only provided that they did not give Italy any fornj of political control. This will be resisted to the »nd. DR. MARTIN’S OBJECTIVE. MONEY TO BUY MUNITIONS. ITALIANS CENSURE BRITAIN, (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, July 25. The Abyssinian Ambassador to Britain, Dr. Ajaz Martin, in an interview published in the “News Chronicle,” says he is endeavouring to raise between £2,000,000 and £5,000,000 on mining and oil-working concessions in order to purchase munitions. Similar attempts have been launched in America.

Dr. Martin says he hopes Britain will grant Abyssinia credit to buy arms, particularly ammunition for Mauser rifles, of which the Abyssinians possess 200,000, beside guns .captured from the Italians in 1896, and some machine guns and a number of aeroplanes. He says Abyssinian women will accompany the army to cook and wash for the soldiers. A message from Turin states that “La Stampa” says: “The first Italian who is shot with a British bullet will die cursing Britain’s insatiable lust for gain, but Italy will be avenged. Her young men are burning with war fever, and believe Britain herself wants Abyssinia. Anglophobe posters are becoming plentiful.” TRANSIT OF ARMS. TERRITORIAL PERMITS. NO LICENSED EXPORTS. IBritish Official Wireless.l (Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 25. Sir Samuel Hoare, in the House of Commons, referring to the supply of arms to Italy and Abyssinia, said that the transit of arms destined for the Government of Abyssinia across British territory or British protected territory adjacent to Abyssinia would be

permitted, in accordance with Article 9 of the* treaty of 1930. “The French Government, I understand, interprets its obligation under the' treaty .in the same manner,” he said. “As to the issue of export licenses the, British Government is doing its best to make possible a peaceful outcome to this dispute and would not wish to do anything which might prejudice the situation. “The Government, therefore, for the present, will not issue licenses for the export of arms from this country, either to Italy or Abyssinia.” /

NEW DEVELOPMENTS. f

AFFECTING MEETING DATE,

NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPALS,

(Received 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 25,

( Several fresh developments have occurred in the Italo-Abyssinian dispute. The most notable is the unexpected reception at Geneva of Notes from Rome and Addis Ababa. The former is regarded as offering a prospect of a changed situation as regards the meeting of the League Council, which the French Foreign office announced as fixed for July 31 to discuss the dispute.

The Italian Note, a copy of which was also sent to Addis Ababa, states that the Government is desirous, as always, of completing the procedure of conciliation. It recalls the previous intimation to Abyssinia that Italy was prepared to resume proceedings before the commission provided it was limited to the Ualua (Walwal) affair.

It is the opinion of Geneva that Italy does not consider that the conciliation procedure has been exhausted and that, consequently, the League Council cannot properly enter into the rights and wrongs of the case until after August 25, the date fixed by the League Council for a meeting if no settlement by the conciliation method had then be reached.

Meantime, Abyssinia has sent a note to Geneva demanding that the Council be summoned urgently.

HISSES OF HATE

UNION JACK DEGRADED,

(Received 1.30 p.m.) ROME. July 25

A Fascist axe rent a Union Jack, which was among the banners at a meeting. There was a crowd of 100,000. Tremendous applause greeted denunciation of Britain, and there were hisses wherever these names were mentioned. Extra guards have been placed at the Japanese Embassy.