TRUCE IN ABYSSINIA?

Northern Advocate, 10 March 1936, Page 6

TRUCE IN ABYSSINIA?

News affecting the Italo-Abys-sinian war is notoriously contradictory, making it difficult to accept any statement offhand. Today a ease in point is presented. There was supplied a dramatic report that Mussolini had accepted the proposal of Geneva that a solution of the Italo-Abyssinian trouble should be sought by negotiation. Bombing aeroplanes which were scouring the interior of Abyssinia were reported t'o have been recalled by radio and ordered to return to their bases. At the same time, wireless flashed the news that Mussolini had accepted Geneva’s proposal, and orders were given to cease bombardments and other operations actually in course of execution. This was splendid news, as surprising as unexpected, but reports that hostilities were continuing, including the bombing of another ambulance unit, confused the situation and created doubt as to the authenticity of the truce announcement. Late this afternoon it was reported that though Mussolini did order discontinuance of bombing, he evidently changed his mind, Borne denying that a truce had been considered. The news, kit was said, came as a surprise to well-informed diplomatic circles in London, as' .no indication of such intention on the part of the Italj&n Government had been given from Italy or Abyssinia, The probability is that Mussolini’s decision surprised his armies in the field as much as the spectator pations. Coming, as it did, so close upon Hitler’s occupation of Rhineland and his proposals to promote European peace. Mussolini’s decision was to be regarded as not unconnected with those developments.