PEACE EFFORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22315, 13 January 1936, Page 9

PEACE EFFORTS

INTEREST IN PARIS ITALIAN INITIATIVE POSSIBILITY SUGGESTED By Telegraph—Presß Association—Copyright (Received January 12, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS. Jan. 11 The suggestion of the likelihood of a fresh attempt to secure peace in East Africa is being widely discussed in Paris. Two sources, one of which is Le Journal, hint that the initiative may come in the form of an Italian request to the League to send a committee of neutral observers to Abyssinia ostensibly to investigate the conduct of the war, but actually to explore avenues to peace. Such a committee might censure Italy's aggression while affirming the necessity for social and economic reform in Abyssinia as a palliative to Italian dignity. Other quarters, however, ask: Would the Emperor accept Italian co-operation or be accommodating in the light of the military position? IL DUCE'S DILEMMA MISTAKES REALISED DESIRE FOR COMPROMISE LONDON, Jan. 10 The Paris correspondent of the News Chronicle says lie learns on the highest authority that the French Prime Minister, M. Laval, has been informed that Signer Mussolini's expectations of presenting the League with the accomplished fact of a rapid and spectacular victory in Abyssinia have vanished. II Duce now realises that be has made two mistakes: Firstly, his refusal to accept the Hoare-Laval plan, and secondly, his rejection of the advice of the Italian General Staff that the effort to obtain spectacular effects would mean gigantic forces which would paralyse the vital rapidity of movement. The French Foreign Office now believes that there are three possibilities as follows: — (1) That Signor Mussolini will withdraw the Italian forces from Abyssinia, simultaneously issuing a flaming manifesto to the Italian people proclaiming that a hostile world has thwarted Italy's justifiable efforts, thus confronting Europe with a hostile and embittered Italy whose plans for 'revenge would be a continuous source of danger. (2) That Signor Mussolini will obstinately retain his forces in Abyssinia, which possibly would result in a palace revolution, though the Quai d'Orsay does not believe that there is a possibility of the collapse of the Fascist regime. (3) That Signor Mussolini will accept a face-saving peace plan, which M. Laval is informed II Duce is ready to do. M. Laval's information is that Signor Mussolini is so anxious to clutch at the chance of a compromise that he will not withdraw from the League under any circumstances. M. Laval is expected to urge the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, to agree to a peace plan presented at Geneva through a minor Power in order to avoid European complications.