PEACE EFFORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22398, 20 April 1936, Page 9

PEACE EFFORTS

FAILURE AT GENEVA BELLIGERENTS' DEMANDS IMPOSSIBLE TO HARMONISE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 19, 7.35 p.m.) GENEVA, April 18 "My efforts, unhappily, have, failed," mournfully concludes the report of the chairman of the Committee of Thirteen, Senor Madariaga, on his attempt to start peace talks between Italy and Abyssinia. The report, which the committee adopted, discloses that Italy demanded that peace negotiations must recognise the Italian conquests. "Only an hour's talk between League officials and the Italian and Abyssinian representatives was needed to prove that it is impossible to conduct negotiations within the spirit of the Covenant," says the report. " Italy refused to talk to Abyssinia through the League and Abyssinia refused to talk without the League." Referring to allegations of the Italians' use of poison gas and of Abyssinian atrocities, the report records that the committee did not return a verdict on. them but transmitted to tho belligerents copies of the jurists' report analysing the evidence, including that of British observers. | The committee has written to the j International Red Cross organisation rebuking it for its refusal to supply evidence of the use of poison gas in Abyssinia on the ground that it woidd be a breach of neutrality. CONCILIATION EFFORTS DEADLOCK AT GENEVA LEAGUE COUNCIL TO MEET British Wireless RUGBY. April 17 There will be a meeting of the Council of the League of Nations in connection with the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia on Monday at Geneva. Press reports from Geneva indicate that the Committee of Thirteen, at its meeting to-day, is thought to have registered the failure of the procedure of conciliation. However, a communique records merely that the chairman stated that the instructions given to him, to obtain information with the assistance of the Secretary-General, M. Avenol, might be regarded as fulfilled. He added that the Committee of Thirteen would meet to-morrow afternoon to draw up a report for submission to the Council on Monday. The communique opened • with the terms of the Ethiopian rejection of the modified Italian proposals, which were described by the Ethiopian delegation as direct negotiations between the Italian and Ethiopian delegations about which the Committee of Thirteen would be kept informed. The delegation could find no substantial difference between these proposals and those it had rejected yesterday, and, therefore, wMle renewing its loyal and unreserved acceptance of appeals by the Council for peace, it called upon the Committee of Thirteen to declare that the Italian Government had not agreed to negotiate within the framework of the League and in the light of the Covenant. No arrangements have been made for a meeting of the Committee of Eighteen, the members of which will continue to stand by, as already advised by their President, Senor Vasconcellos. It is understood, however, that experts have been asked to prepare a report on the effectiveness of the existing sanctions and necessary measures, if any, to render them more effective. DEFENDERS' STRATEGY RESISTANCE STILL POSSIBLE MYSTERY ABOUT EMPEROR LONDON, April 17 A special correspondent of the Morning Post, who has just returned from Abyssinia, says he considers that rain can still foil the best laid Italian plans, Moreover, ,the first, strategic position since the last Abyssinian resistance lies a few miles from Addis Ababa, where thousands of Abyssinians could gather behind the vertical escarpment and protect a 10 miles front. Everything seems to depend upon 'the Emperor's ability to organise final resistance. The Italians cannot employ gas, which has been the chief factor of their rapid advance, because they will be too near the capital. On the other hand, the stocks of Abyssinian arms are believed to be very low. The whereabouts of the Emperor is still veiled in mystery. He may be cut off behind the Italian lines. A despatch from Addis Ababa states that the Emperor has sent a message that he is well and is accompanied by 20,000 troops. The reports that lie intends to flee to Kenya are described as ridiculous. Italian bombers flew over the capital and released smoke clouds of red, green, and yellow, the Italian colours. ALLEGED ATROCITIES ABYSSINIANS ACCUSED ITALY'S NOTE TO LEAGUE ROME. April 17 Italy has forwarded to tho League of Nations a protest alleging that during a clash at Garbhagi on March 8 the Abyssinians tortured nine wounded Askaris. Tho Note alleges that the loader, who was a Mahommedan Somali, had his hands cut off, and the others had their bodies cut and were otherwise maltreated.

" Many other statements confirming Abyssinian atrocities will be forwarded," says the Note.