AFRICAN DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 9

AFRICAN DISPUTE

EFFORTS TOWARDS SOLUTION LEAGUE COUNCIL MEETING (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, July 23. As a result of exchanges which have taken place, it is now authoritatively stated that a close agreement exists between the French and British Governments in regard to <the efforts they are making to obtain a peaceful solution of the Italo-Abyssinian dispute. It is widely hoped that at the League Council meeting, which is to be held next week, thorough ventilation of the issues involved will reveal lines upon which such a solution may be'sought. It will be for members of the Council to decide upon the agenda, but while the incident at Ualual will in all probability be first dealt with, it is considered almost certain that the Council will thereafter desire to consider the dispute in all its aspects. "' ITALY AND JAPAN LONDON, July 23. Anti-Japanese demonstrations broke out in Milan, Genoa, Turin and BolognaThe newspaper Messagerp says that Japanese mentality alone is comparable to Abyssinian for hypocrisy; and bad faith. Japan is the enemy of Europe, America and the white race. The Italian? attitude'is resented in Japan, but Tokio refuses to comment. SAFETY OF MISSIONARIES (Britiuh Official Wireless.) ■•.'■ RUGBY, July 23. Missionary societies in London have been warned by the Government that British, missionaries who are scattered in very, remote -i districts in Abyssinia should be advised to concentrate in the neighbourhood of Addis Ababa. The missionaries affected, with their wives and families, number less than 100, and if they desire that their wives and families should . leave the country suitable arrangements would be made for their departure. FRANCE SUPPORTS BRJTAIN LONDON, July 24. (Received July 24, p.m.) The. Times Paris correspondent says: "France will support Britain's efforts to keep the Abyssinian dispute within League jurisdiction. Signor Mussolini has been sobered by the general staff's anxieties, the difficulty in keeping the lira on gold, and Japanese opposition. He may not deliver an irreparable blow until every other possibility has been exhausted." JAPANESE MUNITIONS SENT GENEVA, July 23. (Received July 24, at 10 p.m.). Japanese agents are rushing quantities of arms and ammunition to Djibouti, realising that treaty arrangements with France guarantee freedom of traffic. v AN ACT 'OF HOSTILITY %>;■ ROME, July 23. (Received July 24, at 10 p.m.) Dr Gayda declares that if England permits the export of arms to Abyssinia Italy will" remember it as an act of hostility. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT LONDON, July 24. {Received July 25, at 0.5 a.m.)

The Times political correspondent says: "Article 15 of the Covenant, on which the League Council's action regarding the Italo-Abyssinia dispute is expected to be based, provides for submission to the League by both parties to the dispute of a full statement: of; their respective cases. It is noped that the Italian Government will be persuaded of the advantage "of making such a statement." -

The Manchester Guardian's political correspondent points out that while Britain strongly holds that the Council should consider the dispute as a whole and not merely the Ualual incident, France has not yet accepted this view, though there is reason to believe that M. Laval shares it. The correspondent adds: "When the dispute comes before the Council Italy will be found by Article 12 of the Covenant either to accept arbitration or an inquiry by the Council and refrain from war for the time being. If she refuses she will have defied the League, causing a critical situation, for the League will then have to decide what steps, if any, shall be taken to uphold the Covenant authority." ■ I. ..' .'■ ~". .'.." ...,..' The-Daily Majl asserts that the prevailing British Cabinet view is that a settlement would more easily be reached after hostilities were started.

THE ATTITUDE OF JAPAN PROBLEM OF TRADE EXPANSION (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, July 24. "It is quite clear that Signor Mussolini, in addition to other influences, is concerned with the success of Japanese trade in Africa," said. Mr Edward C. Carter, Secretary-general of the Institute of Pacific Relations, who is visiting Auckland in the course of a study tour of member countries of the institute.

".Signor Mussolini is probably unnecessarily alarmed with reference to Japan's designs in ! Abyssinia, but he cannot have left unnoticed the extraordinary growth in Japan's trade with Egypt, where, in the textile field, Japan has dealt such body blows to Lancashire," Mr Carter said. " There has heen talk of a union between members of the Abyssinian and Japanese royal families, but I think this has been exploded as mere gossip. It is true that in order to raise her standard of living and to provide for her swollen military and naval expenditure Japan must continue to find ever-fresh •markets in every part of the world. This need is accentuated by American tariffs, restrictions in several British countries, and by embargoes or quotas in various parts of the world. * '" If, therefore, yet another door—that of - Abyssinia—is closed to Japanese trade, Japan's manufacturers will feel an added grievance," Mr Carter continued. "In spite of innumerable barriers to Japanese trade it has shown an almost unbelievable increase in the past three years. It is time that the peoples of the Occident stopped talking about the ' sweat-shop' conditions in Japan and studied the real reasons for Japan's industrial success. The secret of this does not Ho primarily in low wages, but in efficient industrial management, large-scale production, modern

machinery, shrewdness in purchasing raw materials, and clever marketing." Mr Carter said the Japanese had a world-wide organisation to study the tastes of consumers, and as a result manufacturers were quick to respond to the popular demand. Industrial trouble was avoided, as loyalty to the employer was regarded as a" patriotic duty, while there was also such magnificent Government support that nearly all the industry of the country was being developed on a national basis. " Cut-throat " competition between factories did not exist to nearly the same extent as it did in some European countries.

In his opinion, with Signor Mussolini determined to enforce Italy's right to expand, it was impossible to predict what action any other country would take, Mr Carter concluded. It seemed that the only thing that would stop Signor Mussolini was the armed force of Great Britain and France, but neither country appeared prepared at the moment to use either economic or military pressure to thwart Italy's Imperialistic ambition.