ITALY’S PLANS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 May 1936, Page 5

ITALY’S PLANS

TROOPS IN ABYSSINIA NO EARLY DEMOBILISATION TO BE MAINTAINED AT PRESENT ESTABLISHMENT (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ROME, 24th May. The Deputy-Viceroy, General Graziani, surprised Italians living at home, who expected the early demobilisation of soldiers who have not actually settled on the land in Abyssinia, by declaring that the 500,000 troops in East Africa will be maintained at the present establishment, thus damping the dreams of speedy family reunions. General Graziani issued a manifesto to the authorities at Addis Ababa announcing that territorial occupation of Abyssinia will be methodically developed. Home leave is limited to temporary furlough to enable troops to marry and take their wives back. It is believed he will found military colonies. Many unemployed rural workers in distressed areas of Italy will seek free passages to Abyssinia with their families, but much preparatory work is necessary. EMPEROR OF ETHIOPIA RESIDENCE IN ENGLAND RUGBY, 24th May. No details are available as to the; duration of Haile Selassie’s residence in England or as to the time of arrival. The Emperor’s party comprise eight persons, and it is not/ known whether the Empress will accompany him. VISIT INCOGNITO (Received 26th May, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, 25th May. The Associated Press understands that Haile Selassie, is visiting England incognito by his own wish. Official receptions and meetings are thus precluded. ITALY ANNOYED VISIT LOOKED ON WITH SUSPICION (Received 26th May, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, 25th May. “The Times” Rome correspondent says Haile Selassie’s going to London caused suspicion and annoyance. It is considered that British sanctionists propose to use the Emperor as a catspaw and appeal through him to the sentimental sympathies of the public in order to ensure the continuance of sanctions. It is pointed ou'< that no assurance has been exacted from the Emperor to abstain from political activity. He has merely undertaken to abstain, while on British soil, from a furtherance of hostilities. Consequently it is anticipated that he will be besieged with interviewers and invitations to social engagements. In short, the Lion of Judah is to be the lion of the London season.

It is suggested in some quarters that Haile Selassie’s visit has put the British Royal Family in an embarrassing position as regards the Italian Royal family. One paper declares that if Haile Selassie is received as Emperor, Italy might interpret the matter as a personal affront to King Victor. Other episodes such as the arrest of Warrant-Officer Bunner and the disappearance of the diplomatic bag are cited as wilful British attempts to increase the tension. NON-CONFIDENTIAL POSTAL PACKET RUGBY, 24th May. It is now learned that what is scribed as the diplomatic hag, which was found to be missing on the journey between Addis Ababa and Djibouti, was a non-confidential postal packet sent from the Legation to H.M. Consul at Djibouti. It appears to have gone astray on the journey and efforts to find it are continuing. 200 CHRISTIANS KILLED MASSACRE BY ITALIAN SOMALIS LONDON, 24th May. A massacre by Italian Somalis at Harrar took a religious complexion. About 200 Amharic Christians were killed in the first six days after thd occupation of the city. The victims were asked: “Are you an Islam?” If they did not answer immediately with a Mohammedan declaration of faith they were shot down. REVIEW OF BALILLAS ROME, 24th May. A feature of a review by Signor Mussolini of Balillas (youth movement) representing the Roman section in the course of ceremonies! throughout Italy, in which 831,399 boys and girls were drafted in preliminary Youth corps, was a Libyan Balilla troop consisting of Arab boys who marched past amid shrieks of applause, their band playing “Facietta Nera” (“Little Black Face’”!, Italy’s “Tipperary,” according to which “the sweetest girl I know” lives in Addis Ababa. EXECUTION OF NATIVES DURING ITALIAN OCCUPATION (Received 26th May, 12.5 p.m.) ROME, 25th May. Official advice from Addis Ababa states that only 53 natives were executed between sth May, the date of the Kalian entry, and 21st May. djibouTTkailway ITALIAN OCCUPATION OF ABYSSINIA MUSSOLINI’S ASSURANCE OF ' LITTLE VALUE TO FRANCE (Received 2uth May, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, 25th May. “The Times” Paris correspondent says that Signor Mussolini’s assurance that the Italian occupation of Abyssinia will not affect the Djibouti railway, which shall continue to be used normally, has little value in French eyes, because it is not the railway but the future economic and political existence of Diibouti itself which is endangered. Even the most rabid anti-sanctionists are beginning to discover that Signor Mussolini s Abyssinian adventure concerns France more closely than thpv were ever orepared to admit, while the Italian victory threatens French colonial communications, which cannot be ignored, as Djibouti is an important Link between France, Indo-China and

Madagascar, moreover its maintenance has cost rFanch nothing, as it lived on Ethiopian trade. Thus any interference with it either by Italian monopolisation or proniDition of commercial relations between Abyssinia and sanctionist countries, must be disastrous. REGARDED AS CLOSED THE BUNNER INCIDENT (Received 26th May, 2.5 p.m.) LONDON, 25th May. Foreign Office reports from Djibouti state that Warrant-Officer Bunner is progressing and the dog bite is mending. Many of the difficulties in which he was placed appear to be due to misunderstandings caused by differences in language. The incident is regarded as closed.

BRITISH LEGATION AT ADDIS ABABA WITHDRAwTToF GUARD REQUESTED MATTER UNDER CONSIDERATION SITUATION STILL FAR FROM STABLE (British Official Wireless) (Received 26th May. 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, 25th May. The Foreign Secretary (Mr Anthony Eden) stated in reply to a in the House of Commons, that the T+ aUan Government had invited the British Government to consider whether, in the light of the occupation of Addis Ababa, it would not now be desirable to withdraw reinforcements despatched last year to strengthen the British Legation Guard. As the situation in Addis Ababa was still far from stable, the Italian Government had been informed that the matter was still under consideration. In another reply, Mr Eden saffi there was no immediate intention of withdrawing His Majesty’s Legation at Addis Ababa, but the Minister, Sir Sidney Barton, in all probability, would shortly be returning to England on leave, which had long been, clue to him.