INDIA AND ABYSSINIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 14

INDIA AND ABYSSINIA

ATTITUDE OF MOSLEMS BITTER FEELING IN THE EAST "India does not like the Italian conquest of Abyssinia. It is asking why the Abyssinians' freedom and birthright should be taken away from them," said the Rov. C. F. Andrews, the eminent authority on Indian life and thought, in an address to relief workers at the Auckland Training College on Friday. Mr. Andrews went on to say that nearly all retail trade in Abyssinia was carried on by thousands cf small Indian shopkeepers, who expected that thev would be turned out and replaced by Italians. The Moslems of India, were very excited about the situation, although the Abyssinians were not of their faith. The reason was that many centuries ago, when the prophet Mahomet found his cause in peril, the Christian king of Ethiopia befriended him by giving sanctuary to the women and children of his folbwers, and later Mahomet gave him aid in return. Indian Moslems were angry that » Christian King to-day should be making a war of conquest upon this ancient people. Last September the feeling had been very strong indeed. India, as an original member of the League of Nations, sent a representative straight to Geneva and gave the fullest support to sanctions. "India is doing what it can to stop the war," concluded the speaker. "It is a disgrace to us and the world and we ought; to pray and hope that ifc may be ended. It can do no good to anyone, certainly none to Italy. It will do a great deal of harm, and it is a terrible thing for all the countries of the East. They are feeling it bitterly and India most of all."