NEW EMPIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22421, 18 May 1936, Page 9

NEW EMPIRE

ITALIAN DECREES ABYSSINIA ANNEXED APPROVAL BY SENATE OTHER POWERS WARNED By Telegrnph—Press Association— Copyright (Received May 17, 6.45 p.m.) ROME. Mny 1G Standing surrounded by cheering members of the Senate clad in black Fascist uniforms, Signor Mussolini to-day asked tli.it the decrees annexing Abyssinia, conferring on King Victor Emmanuel the title of Emperor of Ethiopia and appointing Marshal Badoglio as Viceroy, be rushed through as emergency measures. The Senate was packed. Tho diplomatic galleries contained Prince Starhemberg of Austria, who arrived in l?ome yesterday from Vienna, and representatives of non-sanctiqnist countries, including tho United States and Japan. Signor Federzoni, President of tho Senate, said that in order to experiment with ail absurd juridical conception a ferocious economic war had been waged in an unprecedented manner against people who were guilty only of defending their fundamental rights. Nevertheless Italy had won both military and political triumphs. Let any who wished to prevent Italy returning to tho work olf peace and reconstruction face their responsibility. Senatoro Marconi acted as chairman of a committee which examined the decrees and approved them within a fow minutes. The voting was led by the Crown Prince, followed by seven other Princes, and resulted in tho acceptance of the decrees by 1537 votes to none. This is regarded as surprising since tho ballot was secret and soveral nonFascists took part in it.

In presenting the Senate's approval of tlie decrees, Senatoro Marconi declared tlint Italy would resist any attempt to deprive her of her new einpiro, won in the teeth of sanctions, which were the most senseless and most immoral events in history. Italy only wished, in addition to increased work on behalf of civilisation, to resume loyal collaboration in securing peace and international equilibrium in Europe. Any who attempted to obstruct her in this would bo guilty of the grossest injustice and tho most dangerous menace.

The Senate decided to have erected a tablet in the House recording that Benito Mussolini founded tho Empire on May 9, 1936.

ETHIOPIA'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRY A CREDIT OF £1,600,000 (Received Mny 17, 6.45 p.m.) ROME. May 16 The National Credit Institute, which is controlled by the Government, has voted £1,600,000 for tho development of Abyssinia. The works proposed include seven arterial roads. A semi-official company is being established to exploit tho mineral wealth of the country. Other proposed developments include hydro-electric power, cotton and cofTeo growing and tho breeding of cattle.

LAKE TSANA ITALIANS' INTENTIONS BASE FOR AEROPLANES LONDON, May IS Tlie Geneva correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says he understands that the Italians propose to use Lake Tsana as a base for a largo fleet of longrange aeroplanes. They will also seek to conduct discussions on the flow of the Nile waters with the British and Egyptian Governments.

ABYSSINIA'S CASE SELASSIE TO DEFEND LONDON, May 15 Haili Selassie, the fugitive Emperor of Ethiopia, will go to Geneva on Juno 15 to defend Abyssinia's case at tho next meeting of tho League Council.