STOLEN REPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22351, 24 February 1936, Page 9

STOLEN REPORT

HOME PUBLICATION BRITISH CASE UNHARMED REALISATION OF MISTAKE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON. Feb. 21 Speaking of the publication in the Rome newspaper II Giornale d'ltalia of the stolen secret report on the British position in Abyssinia made last June by the Maffey Committee to the Foreign Office, the Times says:— "All that is mysterious about the Maffey report is why II Duce published it. It may be read without a blush by Englishmen who are in no way insensitive to national honour. "It shows that Britain never possessed a selfish or sectional interest to defend in Abyssinia, also that Britain, so far from waving II Duce airily on his marauding expedition, was not even in receipt of an expert's report to study the contingencies until June, when the world was confronted by Rome's manifestly truculent determination to break the four treaties binding Italy against aggression. "The disclosure leaves the Italian case even in worse shape. Nor is it to be redeemed by the often-admitted shortcomings of Abyssinia. Barbarism of Aggressive War "There is one barbarism of antiquity, namely, slavery, the survival of which still troubles Abyssinia. There is another barbarism of the 20th century, outlawed by the consent of all nations, including Italy—the barbarism of aggressive war. "The ruler of Abyssinia has conspicuously striven to rid himself of the first, to end which he accepted the good offices of the League. The ruler of Italy is still glorying in the second." The Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent says information which has reached London suggests that Italian official circles are beginning to question the wisdom of publishing the purloined Maffey report. It is also felt that its publication will irritate British opinion and so lead to a stronger demand for more intensive sanctions, which Italy is doing her utmost to lift. Italian Editor's Allegations Signor Mussolini, meanwhile, is refusing to contemplate his participation in the suggested round-table conference with Germany regarding the larger European issues, including armament programmes, which France and Britain are trying to arrange. The Rome correspondent of the Times says the English newspapers' curiosity as to how the Maffey Document reached II Giornale d'ltalia will never be satisfied. , The editor, Signor Virginio Gavda, contends that the report does not vindicate Britain's disinterestedness. On the contrary, Britain, when faced with the prospect of Italy absorbing Abyssinia, took the initiative in her own interests, regardless of the League, and consequently her subsequent intervention on behalf of the League was not the outcome of a straightforward policy, but was due to new mysterious domestic factors. Signor Gayda adds that this fact'must be clearly understood by League supporters throughout the world. Also, he says, the report calls for the mediation of Englishmen of good faith. It cannot he brushed aside by ready-made phrases. TEXT OF DOCUMENT FULL PUBLICATION LIKELY COMMONS DEBATE ARRANGED British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 21 It has been arranged that the question of publication in II Giornale d'ltalia, of extracts from the confidential British document containing an inter-Department report on British interests in Abyssinia, will be raised in the House of Commons on Monday, either by means of privato notice of questions or in the general debate to be held on foreign affairs. If the House shows a general desire, it is probable that the Government will agree to make public the whole report, which is of considerable length and of which only selected extracts appeared in the Italian journal. The Committee of Experts which issued the report had been engaged during the early months of last year in a dispassionate examination of British interests in Abyssinia. Its report especially made clear that it excluded from its consideration all political and moral aspects that would become involved by aggressive action by Italy, such as acquiescence of .the British Government in a breach by Italy of her pledges under the League Covenant, the Kellogg Pact, the tripartite agreements of 15)06, etc. The Committee's main finding was that Britain's material interests in Abyssinia are in fact limited to tho Lake Tsana waters of tho Blue Nile, which irrigate the Sudan and Egypt, and the grazing rights of the protected tribes of British Somaliland. This finding corroborates tho statement frequently made bj' British statesmen to the effect that Britain's attitude throughout tho present dispute, contrary to Italian allegations, has been actuated not by material or Imperialistic interests, but solely by fidelity to her pledges to tho League and its principles. The News Chronicle says: "The Italian press, oddly enough, jmtirel.v ignores the fact that the document disproves conclusively the noisy assertions that the real motives of the British Government's opposition to Italy's war of aggression were fears for her own Imperialistic interests. In this report tho British Government was assured by its own experts that there was no ground for any such fear. If Italy has no more damaging criticism to make of the policy of this country than the evidenco of this secret report, .he must be hard put to it." A similar line is taken in all other press comment. Foreign newspaper comment appears to take the same view as that of the British press—that its publication cannot be a cause of embarrassment to Britain. Typical of the comments of many foreign newspapers is that of the Petit Bleu, Paris, which states: "Rome has brilliantly demonstrated that the attitude of Britain in the dispute has been completely disinterested."