LIMIT CONFLICT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22231, 4 October 1935, Page 11

LIMIT CONFLICT

BRITISH ATTITUDE STATEMENT PENDING FRANCE AS AN ALLY MEDITERRANEAN QUESTION By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyriElit (Received October 3, 0.15 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 3 The Daily Telegraph says it learns that the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, intends to deal fully and frankly with the international situation in a speech at the Conservative Party's Conference at Bournemouth to-morrow. Mr. Baldwin will make it plain beyond the possibility of doubt that Britain is prepared to go as fast and as far as other members of the League in an attempt to limit the approaching conflict between Italy and Abyssinia. The Prime Minister also will state the reasons why Britain pledged herself to uphold the principle of collective security and why she cannot contemplate the possibility of isolated action. The Telegraph's Paris correspondent says the newspaper information, which is generally supposed to reflect official views, states that the Chancelleries now realise that war is inevitable. It adds that the French reply to the British inquiry is beyond doubt. "If the British, contrary to all probability, should bo attacked in the Mediterranean," says the paper, " France naturally would give her the assistance duo to an ally. This is so clear as to be without question." The correspondent says opinion in France is hardening against any form of sanctions which might involve Franco in a war with Italy. Theoretically the desirability of economic sanctions is admitted, but the general opinion is that peace must be saved for France at any cost. L'Echo de Paris says: " The thought of shedding the blood of our Latin brothers inspires us with irresistible revolt." The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent says M. Laval will exert all his efforts to localise the war, adopting only such sanctions as can be carried out by internal, not international. legislation. Already he has been informed that Signor Mussolini would not resent some sort of financial and economic sanctions which would not involve interference with Italy's maritime trade or a 1 blockade or the cutting off of Italy's East African troops from Italy. BRITAIN'S DEFENCES PLEA FOR IMPROVEMENT MR. CHURCHILL'S MOTION (Received October 3. 6.25 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 3 In a call to Conservatives to support an immediate improvement in Britain's defence forces, no matter how great the financial sacrifices, Mr. Winston Churchill, at the Conservative Party's Conference to-morrow, will move to organise industries for speedy conversion to war purposes, and to seek to establish air equality with the strongest Power within striking distance, that Britain should rebuild her Fleet, thus strengthening tho Navy and preserving the coherence of the Empire. LEAGUE ACTION MORE MEETINGS LIKELY POSSIELE HOSTILITIES British Wireless RUGBY, Oct. 2 At the meeting of the British Cabinet to-day Mr. Anthony Eden reported fully on the recent events in Geneva, and his colleagues endorsed his actions. According to present arrangements Mr. Eden should reach Geneva on Friday morning. Messages from Rome and Geneva report important developments in connection with the dispute between Italy and Ethiopia. Tho League Secretariat received a telegram from the Emperor of Ethiopia alleging that Italian troops had violated the Abyssinian frontier in the region south of Mount Mussa Ali, in the province of Aussa. The telegram was at once communicated to the Council, and tho members of the League and Senor Ruiz Guinazu, president of the Council, conferred with M. Avenol, Secretary-General. Press messages state that wellinformed circles in Geneva consider the turn of events as pointing to the opening of hostilities. No collision between Italian and Ethiopian forces would appear to have occurred, and this evening there was no suggestion of an emergency meeting of the Council should hostilities break out before the Committee of Thirteen has completed its work. It is presumed in London that the Council, and perhaps the Assembly also, will bo summoned immediately. The Council will have to determine whether there has been resort to war within the meaning of the Covenant. If it is established that one or other party has committed a breach of paragraph 1 of Article XII. of the Covenant, Article XVI. would as a consequence become operative. Signor Mussolini, in his broadcast speech, made no mention of hostilities in East Africa, but is reported to have said: "For many months Italy, under the inipulso of Fate, has been heading toward hor goal, and in past hours the wheel of fate has been going faster and will not be stopped." NEW YORK WAR SCARE r (Received October 3 6.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 2 The war scare has again dislocated the market in New York. Securities fell one to five points in heavy selling. Grain prices increased up to 5 cents a bushel and cotton was 1 dollar 50 cents to 2 dollars a bale higher. ATTITUDE OF VATICAN ROME, Oct. 2 A possibly significant incident is tho fact that tho bolls St, Peter's, Rome, did not join tho other church bells in summoning jo populace to hear Signor Mussolini's speech, nor did tho Vatican take part in the subsequent illuminationi