OUTLOOK GLOOMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22194, 22 August 1935, Page 11

OUTLOOK GLOOMY

ITALY NOT WATERING TROOPS REPLACE INVALIDS LLOYD'S ODDS ON CONFLICT By Telegrarh—Press Association— Copyright LONDON. Aug. 20 In view of the early meeting of the Cabinet, London is the centre of diplomatic interest, and developments in the Italo-Abvssinian dispute are anxiously awaited. The French press assumes that war between Italy and Abyssinia is inevitable. Signor Mussolini does not show the faintest tendency to waver, and has accepted as volunteers for active service Signor Starace, secretary of the Fascist Party, and nine members of the directorate. It is reported that malaria and dysentery are taking toll of the Italian troops in Eritrea and Somaliland. One thousand of the worst sufferers are being sent back to Italy every week, while 11 Duce continues to hurl men and weapons into the threatened zone. The Daily Mail reiterates its arguments against Britain remaining the "whipping boy of Geneva." The News Chronicle, on the other hand, says that if Britain fails to shoulder her responsibility under the League Covenant to prevent Italy invading Abyssinia, this, following the League's failure to protect China, will demonstrate its valuelessness in restraining any Power from making war on a weak member of the League. This means that Italy could not expect the assistance of the League if Herr Hitler's legions marched through the Brenner Pass. The consequences for France if menaced by armed Germany would be almost as serious, while, if Britain failed in loyalty to the League, the whole system of collective security would collapse. Lloyd's betting is odds on a conflict between Italy and Abyssinia, and the underwriters are refusing further insurances against war risks. The chairman of the Underwriters' Association. Mr. J. J. Kjjigston, stated yesterday that no advice had been received in Auckland concerning insurances against war risks as mentioned in the cablegram. It was probable that the insurances applied only to the Mediterranean.