DRAMATIC SPEECH

Northern Advocate, 24 October 1935, Page 7

DRAMATIC SPEECH

LORD MOTTISTONE’S

INQUIRY

MESSAGE TO ITALIAN COMMANDER

"AS ONE SOLDIER TO ANOTHER.’

FRIGHTFULNESS REPORTS DENIED. lUnited Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright .3 (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, October 22. A dramatic speech was made by Lord Mottistone, formerly MajorGeneral Seely, in the House of Lords today. He said he had telegraphed to the Italian commander in Abyssinia, General De Bono, asking him, “as one soldier to another,” < whether it was true or false that he had been capturing slaves-—men, women and children; whether it was true that anyone who attempted to resist Abyssinian raids was murdered, tortdred or mutilated; whether it was true or false that hundreds of thousands of Abyssinians were so willing to be delivered that they had overcome their dread of white men, and did not care who delivered them from their awful slavery?

General De Bono had replied with, a most emphatic denial of the reports from Addis Ababa concerning aerial bombing or illtreatment of the population. He denied the “false statements” at Geneva concerning destructions and massacres.

General De Bono had said the Italian commands would endeavour to

compensate for property damaged in the course of the advance, which had been welcomed with touching enthusiasm. Religious authorities and natives every day greeted the Italians with sympathy, “State of Utter Misery,” The Italian commander had also stated that he had found Abyssinians in a state of utter misery—underfed and ill. The Italian commander had set free all slaves who occupied the areas, and had taken measures to eradicate slavery. This work would be carried on with the advance. Every assistance was being given to the needy and starving population. Lord Mottistone said that three days ago General Badoglio had telegraphed to Signor Mussolini saying he had been told that a blockade such as the closing of the Suez Canal was likely to be put into operation shortly. A statement was made by the Marouess of Londonderry, Leader of the House, who dealt'in particular with a suggestion that the British Government had failed to warn the Italian Government of the serious consequences of a breach of the Covenant in Abyssinia. This he rebutted with a recital of Britain’s efforts to prevent the development of the dispute, and to secure a peaceful settlement. The Labour leader, Lord Snell, voiced the approval ,of the Labour Party of the action of the Government at Geneva in support of the Covenant. , .. , The debate was then adjourned. LORDS AND SANCTIONS (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 23. In the House of Lords, Earl Stanhope, Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, commenting on Lord Mottistone’s speech in which he condemned supplying arms to Abyssinia and urged investigation by a commission, said that the commission suggested was superfluous, and would get little further information. The Earl considered that it would be possible that proposals for settlement of the Italo- Abyssinian • dispute might be made early m 193 d, which was the worst possible time to be holding an election. . The Marquess of Lothian said he » horrified that Earl Stanhope did not • contemplate an appreciable efiect from economic sanctions unti