MINGLED FEELINGS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 2 July 1936, Page 7

MINGLED FEELINGS

HAILE SELASSIE’S SPEECH REPRESENTATIVES VISIBLY EMBARRASSED

STERN DENUNCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUES (United Press Association —B.v Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 2nd July, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, 30th June. A frail, lonely figure, speaking a language that none of the delegates understood, Haile Selassie appealed to the League not to abandon his unhappy country. Only his bearing and manner indicated the extent to which he personally was moved, but the words, which were immediately translated from Amharic through an automatic multiphone, confirmed his obvious appeal. “God and history will remember your judgment” he said.

Nevertheless, the speech was received with mingled feelings by the representatives of 52 nations, who were visibly embarrassed by the Negus’s taunts at their ineffectiveness to deal with the aggressor.

The speech from beginning to end sounded a stern denunciation of international intrigues. The Emperor complained bitterly of the failure of the League’s promise of support. He announced that whatever the League did, Ethiopia was not going to bow to force.

ITALIAN OPINION RILED PROTEST AGAINST ARRESTS (Received 2nd July, 9.15 a.m.) GENEVA, Ist July. The “News-Chronicle’s” Rome correspondent says Haile Selassie’s speech riled Italian opinion, newspapers heaping abuse on him and calling him a deserter. The Italian Foreign Office is protesting against the arrest of the Italian journalists.

TO BE EXPELLED (Received 2nd July, noon) GENEVA, Ist July.

The Swiss Government decided not to prosecute the journalists who tried to whistle down Haile Selassie, but to conduct them to the frontier and expel them from Switzerland for the duration of the Assembly. The Italian Minister protested,,and requested that they be given a reasonable interval before expulsion. That point, to which they will be conducted will be the nearest to Italy. They are at present comfortable in the prison station consuming quantities of macaroni.

DISTRESSING IMPRESSION CREATED (Received 2nd July, 9.0 a.m.) PARIS, Ist July. The French press unanimously deplores the Italian journalists behaviour and also considers that the Emperor’s speech created a distressing impression. “Le Journal” declares it was the most humiliating speech ever heard by the English and French Governments. It was especially humiliating to France.

NIGHT IN THE CELLS (Received 2nd July, 9.0 a.m.) GENEVA, Ist July. In consequence of yesterday’s disturbances, police took special precautions to exclude possible demonstrators from the League galleries in the morning. The Italian journalists spent the night in the cells. It is expected that they will be expelled from Switzerland. The Italian press describes the incidents as “An inevitable consequence of the provocation which the presence of the Negus has given.” “II Messaggero di Rodi” indignantly denounces the violence and brutality shown the journalists for a legitimate protest. ITALIAN “CIVILISATION” (Received 2nd July, 11.15 a.m.) ROME, Ist July. The Italian Minister of Propaganda sent the journalists a message of sympathy and support for those who were imprisoned as malefactors for showing unrestrainable disdain in the face of a grave insult to a country which was guilty only of bringing its ageold civilisation to a barbarian Empire. Signor Scoppa (Italy) informed Dr. Motta (Switzerland) that unless the Italian journalists were immediately released the tension between Italy and the League would become more acute.

“GENEVA PRISONERS” TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION AT ROME (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 2nd July, noon) ROME, Ist July. Signor Umberto Gugielmotti, national secretary of the Fascist Union of Journalists, congratulated the journalists, assuming them of their colleagues’ solidarity. He added that he had summoned Italian branches to support them. Signor Alfieri. Minister of Press Propaganda, states that the journalists’ gesture was a spontaneous reaction when they saw the delegates applauding a former sovereign of a country where so many atrocities had been committed. It was not premeditated. The Government might or might not agree with their action, but the Minister’s previous message expressed the feeling of the whole of the Italian people. Moreover, the journalists’ disapproval took the form of whistling and booing in a theatre, in which it was always permissible to clap. Signor Gayda declares that Europe dishonoured herself in disapproving of the jeers of journalists, which were those of 45.000.000 Italians. He strongly resents M. Titulescu’s comments. A torchlight procession will be held in Rome in honour of the “Geneva prisoners.” GOING BACKTO ABYSSINIA ARMY REORGANISED (Received 2nd July, 9.15 a.m.) GENEVA, Ist July. The dramatic question with which

Haile Selassie ended his speech: “What reply have I to take back to my people?” confirms reports that he intends to return to Abyssinia. The “Daily Herald’s” diplomatic correspondent says he will travel via Egypt to the Sudan. The British Government will put no obstacles in his way.

The Abyssinian delegation at Geneva announces that Haile Selassie received a communication from Gore stating that the Abyssinian army has been reorganised.

INTERNATIONAL SITUATION OBLIGATIONS UNDER COVENANT (Received 2nd July, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Ist July. The League Council decided to discuss Danzig, owing to the gravity of the situation. Mr Anthony Eden has asked Sean Lester, High Commissioner at Danzig, to come to Geneva. A meeting of Scandinavian States, Spain and Switzerland issued the following communique: “The aggravation of the international situation raises the question as to whether obligations under the Covenant still exist. It is admissible that certain articles of the Covenant, especially those relating to disarmament, remain a dead letter, while others are applied. We are willing to examine amendments to the Covenant, but reform of the League without such amendment is preferable.” Official circles interpret the communique as meaning that unless sanctions are made more efficacious, the signatories will refuse to participate in future sanctions.

FRANK SPEECH FRANCE’S ATTITUDE OUTLINED APPEAL FOR GENERAL DISARMAMENT (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 2nd July, 10.5 a.m.) GENEVA, Ist July. At the opening of the sitting of the Assembly, M. Van Zeeland (President) deplored the profoundly regrettable incidents and warned the galleries that if there were any disturbances he would instantly have the offenders removed.

M. Blum (Prime Minister of France) asked to be excused if he spoke frankly. He said he fully realised that France’s influence in European affairs had waned since he assumed power. The recent strikes and the occupation of the Rhineland gave the impression that France was declining, but public opinion was wrong. There was never the slightest possibility of the strikes leading to civil war. The occupation of the Rhineland was wrongly interpreted that France would tolerate anything. On the contrary France had not mobilised, as she remained loyal to Locarno and the League, but if the soils of France or those to which France had obligations were violated France’s reply would be different. The strikes should not be taken as a sign of French weakness in the face of possible aggression. The atmosphere had never before been so heavy and was rendered still more oppressive on account of the mystery of certain countries regarding rearmament. War was considered a ' definite possibility, for the first time in eighteen years. The most alarming symptoms had been the growing impression that countries had been ignoring pacts and obligations to gain advantage over those faithful to the covenants.

“Shall we be able to resist the success of those discarding obligations?” M. Blum asked. “My Government denies that war is a legitimate method of settling international disputes. France wants peace, but will not remain silent before force or recognise victories gained by force. The League certainly experienced failure and proved powerless to stop aggression or end a war of aggression, but this was not due to faulty drafting of the Covenant but to the uncertain and belated application of it. France will not permit a weakening of the League. On the contrary she is prepared to consider any scheme to tighten up the Covenant and will not spare effort to restore international confidence.” M,' Blum concluded with an exhortation for general disarmament by means of progressive reduction. REGARDED AS OVER-IDEALISTIC (Received 2nd July, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Ist July. M. Blum’s speech was disappointing. It was regarded as over-idealistic and addressed to Germany in language she does not comprehend. M. Blum barely mentioned the Abyssinian problem. Senor Solis, Panama, wound up the morning session of the Assembly by declaring that international law could not progress more rapidly than civilisation.

VIEWS OF DELEGATES SANCTIONS AND SECURITY (United Press Association— By Electric Telegra pb—Copyright) (Received 2nd July, noon) GENEVA, Ist July. At the resumption of the Assembly in the afternoon, Mr te Water said South Africa cannot subscribe to a declaration to the world which would shatter for generations international confidence and all hope of realising world peace. South Africa was prepared to maintain sanctions, which course alone would maintain the League as an instrument of security for its members. Mr Massey said the Canadian Government’s view of the continuance of ineffective economic pressure would not secure the original objective. Mr Eden said the Emperor’s appeal must have evoked the sympathy of everyone. The occasion was painful for all. M. Litvinoff (Russia) affirmed that the sanctions article, if fully applied, could stop any aggressor, but at the outset of the Italian aggression there were attempts to limit its scope. Economic sanctions must be obligatory on all members and should be accompanied by military sanctions. M. Litvinoff. presumably alluding to Germany. referred to “the actions and statements of one European State whose aggressive intentions leave no room for doubt—indeed, are openly proclaimed by. that State itself” —as indicating an accelerated rate of preparation for aggression in more than one direction. The Assembly adjourned.