"A WICKED THING ”

Northern Advocate, 23 October 1935, Page 7

"A WICKED THING ”

Arms For Abyssinia PEER’S SENSATIONAL SPEECH SUPPORT FOR ITALY [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright.l (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, October 22. “JT is a wicked thing to send arms to the cruel, brutal men of Abyssinia, while denying them to a people playing an honourable part.” , Thus spoke Lord Mottistone, formerly Major-General Seeley, in the course of a sensational speech in the House of; Lords, in fulfilment of his recent appeal to the Government, not to remove the embargo against the export of arms to Abyssinia until he had made his statement. Lord Mottistone said he happened to know that increased quantities of arms and ammunition were* likely to be exported at any moment to Abyssinia. This was so wicked and wrong that he did not think Britain as a whole would want to be a .party to it. He asked: “Do you suppose the Italians will regard this action calmly?” Telegrams Surprise House.

He proceeded to reveal an exchange of telegrams with General De Bono, surprising the House. General Badoglio had said that such a blockade would cause him great embarrassment, because, although he had enough food collected to last his whole army for many months, he did not see how he could also feed the 120,000 men, women and children, who had now' come under his protection. Signor Mussolini, said Lord Mottostone, had replied to his eternal honour: “We must take that risk and continue to feed the native population as before.” This communication had not been made public, but Lord Mottistone was allowed to use it. Slaves freed now numbered, according to his latest information, about 20,000, and about 20,000 riflemen had also been taken. The position was, he said, that: “Wte are sending arms to about l;000,000 bloodthirsty tyrants while denying arms and supplies to. the Italian army, with, over 100,000" mouths to All. “If the people suggest that there was no truth in these reports, it is a simple matter to'discover the truth.” He suggested that a swift cruiser or aeroplane, with a commission of three people, should go to Eritrea, where they could see the Italian officers and Abyssinian prisoners, and ascertain the truth. They could interview Ras Gugsa and find his opinion. Lord Mottistone suggested that the commission consist of an Englishman of high authority, a Frenchman and. a British representative of the Anti-Slavery Society. 'The debate was adjourned without Government comment on the speech.