WORLD AMITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22431, 29 May 1936, Page 11

WORLD AMITY

DESIRE OF ITALY k- ' ' f . IL DUCE INTERVIEWED SANCTIONS RESENTED HINT TO BRITAIN AGREEMENT SOUGHT By Telegraph—Press Associations-Copyright (Received May 28. fi.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 07 The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, in the course 0 f an interview with Signor Mussolini m T*°me, elicited the information that Italy will respect* the independence of Albania, but will take no initiative regarding a Mediterranean agreement while sanctions are continued. After that, however, Italy will try to reach a peaceful understanding. The Mediterranean States need fear nothing/ said 11 Duce. Italy would observe her treaties of friendship with Greece and Turkey. She would profit hy Britain's experience in India in organising her East African Empire. Italy did not require a black Army in Europe or in Africa, because she could mobilise 8.000,000 soldiers within her own borders. Addis Ababa would remain the Abyssinian capital. Conversations might be advisablo in order to harmonise British and French economic interests with those of Italy. Britain's interests in Lake Tsana would be respected. There need be no armaments race. The Libyan garrison would remain until the situation had eased and would be repatriated when the British Fleet wa% withdrawn from the Mediterranean. Signor Mussolini said he was willing to do everything he could to promote a rapprochement between Britain and Italy. He went on to say that Italy's attitude toward Austria's independence ■ras unchanged. The League of Nations could continue if it reformed itself, but if sanctions continued the question of Italy's withdrawal would become urgent. On the other hand their cessation would lead to the stabilisation of Europe. Fascist. Italy wanted peace.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

SUGGESTED REFORMS ' VIEWS OF THE PRIMATE (Received May 28,'6.5 p.m.) fetish Wireless RUGBY, May 27 '• The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, in presiding at the opening of the Convocation of Canterbury, referred to the international situation and to proposals for the refoiffl of the League of Nations. He said that if the League was to fulfil its high purpose they could not acquiesce in it being reduced to the I position of a mere council of conciliation.

The spirit of aggressive nationalism was too' strong and the fear and suspicion ifc aroused too rife. "We cannot abandon or whittle down what the' League stands for," declared the Primate., "The actual circumstances of the times seem to have discredited it but the ideal remains and will remain for the Christian world. The ultimate basis of justice and peace will be the moral and spiritual one of a reconstructed League of Nations."

FUGITIVE EMPEROR VISIT TO ENGLAND TRAVELLING INCOGNITO ». ■'/ British "Wireless RUGBY. May 27 Questioned in the House of Commons to-day as to the arrangements for the reception of the Emperor Haili Selassie,, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, replied that the Emperor was 'Coming to England incognito at his own request. No question of a ceremonial reception, therefore, arose.

REASONS FOR DEFEAT ABYSSINIAN WARRIORS CORRESPONDENT'S OPINIONS t PERTH, May 28 Reasons for the defeat of the Abysiinians were outlined by Captain Arnold Wineholt, war correspondent of the Courier-Mail, Brisbane, who passed through Freemantle yesterday on the liner Otranto en route to Brisbane. Captain \Vineholt said the AbysRfnians had failed to grasp the significance of guerilla warfare. But for - the flight of the Emperor the Italians now would have had to deal with a well-planned Abyssinian retreat to the west, which would have enabled them to maintain their resistance until the s next rains. Haili Selassie was overwrought, physically and mentally, and could not blamed unduly. Ho had had no strong patriotic adviser, only cowardly interested persons. Abyssinian fighting ' men were very brave and boro their wounds with great fortitude. The leadership among the high ranktog northern commanders wa3 extraordinarily stupid. They could not learn the lesson of not trying to attack Italian positions. If they had grasped that, or been ready to learn, the position of Abyssinia would have been very different. The Abyssinian warriors had been subjected to long-drawn-out starvation ond to the murderous operations of '■■■ "stive brigands who were stirred by Its! ■an propaganda, and money was supplied to them for rifles and ammunition.

CZECHS' INDEPENDENCE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN - (Received May 28, 0.5 p.m.) : : British "Wireless RUGBY, May 27 The Foreign Secretary. Mr. Eden, asked ,in the House of Commons y to-day what was the Government's policy toward flic maintenance of the independence of Czechoslovakia. He l '6plied that the policy was that which fSßulted from loyal adherence to the Covenant of the League of Nations,