ITALY'S PRESTIGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22209, 9 September 1935, Page 9

ITALY'S PRESTIGE

EFFORTS TO SAYE A BLOODLESS VICTORY TASK F'OR NEGOTIATORS ANTI-EIRITISH FASCIST B;r Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 8, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 8 The Geneva correspondent of the Sunday Times says the new conciliation committee's first task will b>!) to amend the Paris proposals until they are acceptable to Signor Mussolini.

Optimists still feel that in such circumstances 11 Duce, in spite of the official press campaign and Italy's warlike preparations, can, without loss of prestige, call off the Abyssinian campaign, especially if he is granted concessions which will enable him to claim a bloodless victory. Nevertheless, such an attitude is not facilitated by the Fascist leader, Sisnor Marinetto, calling on Italians to desist from the "pernicious British habits of tea drinking, snobbery, golfing, bridge playing, puritnnism, clean shaving, pipe smoking and inexplicable apathy toward women." An Army order says officers must cease giving their horses English names and substitute Italian names.

RESORT TO WAR NOT DURING CONVERSATIONS DEFINITE ITALIAN ASSURANCE (Received September 8. 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 7 The specis.l representative of the Associated Press at Geneva says it is reliably understood that Signor Mussolini has giver; a definite assurance that ha will not resort to war while the conversations continue. The new president of the League Assembly is expected to be Dr. Benes (Czecho-Slovjikia) or Mr. de Yalera (Irish Free State). British circles emphatically deny a report published in a Geneva newspaper that they oppose Mr. de Valera's candidature. Also there seems to be no foundation for the same paper's assertion that certain Dominions will vote against Mr. do Yalera.

POPE'S ADDRESS RAINBOW ON HORIZON PEACE STRONGLY URGED (Received September 8. 5.5 p.m.) ROME, Sept. 7 The Pope, addressing 15,000 exservicemen of all nations, said:—"lt appears we see a rainbow forming on the horizon. The desires and aspirations of a great people must be satisfied, but with justice, peace and honour. " Without justico there is only sin, which makes peoples miserable. We want peace as a preliminary condition to the well-being of all." Heavy falls were registered on the Rome Bourse to-day in industrials, metalsi and minerals. Fiats declined 25 points overnight to 326. ITALIAN OBSTRUCTION SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN COMPROMISE ARRANGEMENT JJritish Wireless RUGBX, Sept. 6 Although in Italian circles at Geneva the events of yesterday are represented as being merely the logical consequence of their policy in regard to Abyssinia, a grave view of the situation arising from the action of the Italian delegates i:a walking out of the Council meeting and in other ways obstructing the League procedure is taken by other delegations. Reports from Geneva state that the Italians, while not wishing formally to leave the League Coun , will continue to vacate their seats in .uture when the Ethiopian delegate takes part in the discussions. The work of the Council was farther hampered by the attitude of the Italian delegates in regard to the proposed appointment bv the Council of the committee of conciliation. The proposal, which emerged from a private meeting of members of the Council, was that the committee should comprise five members, representing Britain, France, Poland, Turkey and Spain. It was revealed last nieht that Italy objected to the inclusion of Britain a.nd France on the ground that, as signatories to the 1906 treaty, they were interested parties, and when these Powers agreed to stand aside and hold themselves at the disposal of the Council, Poland and Turkey are understood to have indicated their desire not to serve on a committee the membership of which would thus be reduced to three. After a day of strenuous negotiation the Council met again in the evening. The private session of the Council during the afternoon, at which Baron Aloisi was present, decided on the constitution of a special committee of five. The objections offered by the Italian delegation to the proposed personnel of the committee were at last overcome by * compromise arrangement, according to which the Italian delegate agreed to refrain from voting on the question at the public session of the League. After a speech by the Mexican member, who recalled the declaration of the American Republics in 1932 that they would not recognise any settlement of an international dispute by force, and who urged the continuation of efforts to reach a solution of the dispute within the -framework of the Covenant, the Council approved the appointment of the committee. The meeting then turned to other items on a very long agenda, which included reports of various League committees on economic, financial and health questions, mandates, intellectual co-operation, opium and traffic in women, etc. The committee of five held its first meeting in private after the Council had adjourned. Senor de Madariaga I'Spain) was elected president. The committee will begin its work to-morrow morning.