ROME'S VIEW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 13

ROME'S VIEW

MR. EDEN'S SPEECH

SURPRISE EXPRESSED MILDNESS OF TONE OIL SANCTION ISSUE By Telecraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 25, G. 5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. ' 25 The Daily Telegraph's Pome correspondent states that Mr. Eden's speech caused surprise there as it was expected it would be more uncompromising toward Italy. The official reaction, according to the Government's spokesmrfVi, is that Italy disagrees with the contention that an oil sanction resembles others. On the contrary oil is a sinew of war, therefore, an oil sanction would be a military sanction and consequently Italy reserves complete liberty of action if it is imposed or the present sanctions are intensified. Mr. Eden's hint of a possible resumption of peace discussions has been received with mixed feelings. Italy would not refuse to consider a proposal but would demand direct negotiations with Haili Selassie owing to Marshal Badoglio's victory and the expectation of similar successes, also because sanctions are not effective. Mr. Eden s statement on that subject is said to be due to misinformation. The Pome correspondent of the Times says Italians believe Britain's cautious attitude toward sanctions will be increased by Mr. W. E. Borah's recent speech, especially his criticism of the motives which induced the-League to declare Italy an aggressor. Political circles in Pome emphasise that Mr. Borah's reference to insidious propaganda confirms their allegations that Britain brought pressure to bear on the United States for the purpose of persuading her to join in sanctions. Signor Mussolini this year will provide 1500 high-speed fighting aeroplanes and bombers with a sjieed of 250 miles an hour and a ceiling of 30,000 feet. The fighters will carry five machineguns each, which will fire in any direction. Aircraft factories are working day and night. REACTION IN GENEVA DISAPPOINTMENT FELT * FURTHER EUROPEAN COMMENT (Received February 25, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 25 A message from Geneva states that, though it is realised that Britain s role is difficult, there is disappointment in League circles that Mr. Eden was not more definite regarding an oil embargo. In Paris the newspapers give great prominence.to Mr. Eden's speech, especially the passage in which he expressed the British Government's desire to see an early and equitable peace between Italy and Abyssinia. This unquestionably is tho thought uppermost in the minds of most Frenchmen to-day. A message from Pome says Mr. Eden's hint of a possible resumption of peace discussions on the basis of the proposals of the Committee of Five is strongly rejected. Typical comment is that Italy has travelled far since she marched into Adowa, but Mr. Eden still stands by tho plan drawn up in September. It is added that Italy will never evacuate the territory she has conquered. The general Feeling in Rome is that Britain has nothing new to propose regarding the Abyssinian conflict, therefore the war must continue. In Berlin the Berliner Tageblatt welcomes Mr. Eden's declaration that Britain's efforts to promote collective security will be sharply distinguished from encirclement. "Mr. Eden did not mention Germany," says the paper, "but he was obviously thinking of Germany." It adds that Germany is very willing to believe Mr. Eden when he says Britain will not co-operate in a policy of encirclement. The Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, on the other hand, is not reassured. It says Britain is like a Roman gladiator with a sword in one hand and a network of pacts in the other, and she intends to enforce her will on all her opponents. LEAVE FOR TROOPS MUSSOLINI'S DECISION SAVING £BOOO A DAY LONDON. Feb. 24 Tho Pome correspondent of tho British United Press again asserts, in spite of denials, that Signor Mussolini has granted leave to 500,000 soldiers of the 1911-13 classes serving in Italy, in addition' to three months' extra furlough for those who aro assisting in agriculture, as a means of saving £BOOO daily on the war bill. Well-informed people predict that this is a preludo to a full discharge from service based on the confident belief that the international situation will steadily improve.