M. LAVAL'S TACTICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22318, 16 January 1936, Page 9

M. LAVAL'S TACTICS

CREATING A DIVERSION GERMAN REARMAMENT LONDON. Jan. 14 The Daily Herald's Paris correspondent says M. Laval's "whispering campaign" in favour of leaving Italy "to be defeated by the Abyssinians and the rain," is being followed up by a shouting campaign to the effect that a watch on the Rhine is worth two on the Alps. In trying to create a suitable atmosphere for new conciliation proposals to submit to Italy and Abyssinia, M. Laval is using the favourite French political trick of creating a diversion to mask his manoeuvres. Newspapers under his influence are fully exploiting the theme of German rearmament and the possible reoccupation of the Rhineland.

The denial from Brussels of the story that the Belgian Royal Family and the Belgian Government bad intervened in an effort to effect a settlement of the war in East Africa recalls the League Council's decision on December 19. This was that the drawing up of any proposals for a settlement of the dispute was to be a matter for the Committee of Thirteen, on which Belgium is not represented. INVADERS' ACTS ALLEGED ATROCITIES ABYSSINIAN COMPLAINT LONDON. Jan. 14 The Addis Ababa correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the Abyssinians, repeating previous accusations of incendiarism and tho employment of gas bombs by the Italians, assert that the invaders set fire to Sakota, before evacuating it on January 10, and destroyed the Church of St. Mary. They killed or injured 10 of the congregation, blinded 10 and burned eight citizens as tho result of bombs which it is believed contained mustard gas. ITALIAN REPORT PERIL OF IL DUCE'S SON SHELL HITS AEROPLANE Times Cable LONDON. Jan. 14 The Rome correspondent of the Times states that a message from Asmara reports that during an unspecified Italian bombardment, all the men belonging to the Abyssinian Red Cross participated in firing upon the attacking aircraft. Vittiorio Mussolini, son of U Duce, narrowly escaped when his aeroplane was hit by an anti-aircraft shell during a bombing raid on Amba Aradam. The cabin door was broken, but Signor Mussolini managed to land his machine unhurt. Ras Nasibu has written to General Graziani denying that prisoners have been decapitated and stating that all are honourably treated. ETHIOPIAN REFORMS ABOLITION OF SLAVERY DEALERS SHOWN IN CHAINS LONDON. Jan. 14 The Daily Telegraph's Addis Ababa correspondent says the Emperor, Haili Selassie, taking advantage of the existing war conditions, has instituted faireaching administrative reforms, including the suppression of slavery. Slave dealers are being arrested and exhibited in chains and their victims liberated. The Maji province, hitherto a black spot in this respect, is now a model district. The departure for the front of slaveowning chiefs and soldiers is clearing the way for reforms under the young Governor, Zawde Ayelu, whose British adviser, Colonel D. A.. Sandford, was appointed in September.