ETHIOPIAN PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22659, 26 August 1935, Page 9

ETHIOPIAN PROBLEM

DISCUSSED BY ITALIAN LEADER HOSTILITY OF ABYSSINIA ALLEGED DISREGARD OF TREATY “ POSITION CANNOT CONTINUE ” The latest cable messages bearing on the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia state that no important developments in the situation are Anticipated before the meeting of the League Council on September 4. In a special interview Signor Mussolini stated that Abyssinia had been hostile to Italy for 40 years and Italy had decided to secure respect for her rights:

EUROPEAN COLLABORATION (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, August 22. A British United Press Association copyright message says: “ The solution of the Ethiopian problem must be radical and conclusive. The position in Ethiopia cannot continue, as a modern weapon and not an ancient lance is pointed at Italy’s back.” In this way Signor Mussolini concluded an interview in which lie frankly discussed Italy’s - attitude. He declared that Abyssinia had been hostile to Italy for 40 years, consistently disregarding the 1828 treaty of friendship, attacking Italian soldiers, killing officials and civilians, and preparing an army to attack the Italian forces. Therefore, Italy had decided to secure respect for her rights. Such action in Abyssinia could not influence the development of European collaboration to which Italy was still disposed entirely to adhere. Signor Mussolini stated that the Stresa , agreements and European equilibrium could be.endangered only by creating a legend of the perils to Europe resulting from a colonial campaign. The Italian operations did not differ from those of other colonial powers in Africa and Asia. A nation on the march, such as Italy, could not be stopped by a static conception of the life of its peoples. Such a conception greatly endangered world peace. The League of Nations, if it desired to live, must realise this danger which, anyhow, Articles 19 and 22 of the Covenant envisaged. Asked whether Italy, in the event of war, would search neutral vessels, Signor Mussolini promised that ho would adhere strictly to the international law.

THE DOMINIONS’ VIEWS LONDON, August 23. While the League Council should have made appreciable progress in investigation of the dispute before the Assembly meets on September 9, the Council will probably sit concurrently with the Assembly, which will also participate in consideration of the matter. It is understood that Britain has not yet formally sought the dominions’ views, but Sir Samuel Hoare is not likely to go to Geneva ignorant of their intentions. All the dominions will be represented at the Assembly, but only Australia is on the Council, for that reason Sir Samuel Hoare must be appraised of the extent to which he is empowered to speak for the others. TENSION IN ADDIS ABABA LONDON, August 23. A London Times copyright message from Addis Ababa says gloom is increasing among the foreign population. Merchants complain that there is no business, and threaten departure. Missionaries of all denominations have begun a four days’ prayer meeting on behalf of Ethiopia. Excitement over Baron Falconi’s injury, which proved to be of the slightest, exemplifies the mounting tension, The Abyssinians are digging pits like wild animal traus which they have placed wooden frameworks covered' with turf and grass along lines of the expected Italian advance in the northern provinces. Many villages are constructing aeroplane traps. The long disused ammunition factory at Addis Ababa is being reconstructed with the greatest secrecy. The guards have been ordered to shoot anyone entering .the precincts. INSTRUCTORS TO RESIGN DJIBOUTI, August 23. Their Governments have ordered the Belgian and Swedish instructors of the Abyssinian Army to resign and return home. ECONOMIC REPRISALS OTTAWA, August 23. The Canadian Commissioner in London has been authorised to pledge Canada’s willingness to join the League in economic reprisals against Italy. FREE PASSAGE OF SUEZ LONDON, August 23. Though Cabinet has not considered whether the League can close the Suez Canal, experts believe that if sanctions are enforced the treaty of 1888 compels the granting of all nations free passage in peace or war. AMERICA’S NEUTRALITY • „ WASHINGTON, August 23. (Received August 25, at 5.5 p.m.) The neutrality legislation banning arms shipment from the United States to warring nations until February 2, 1936, passed the House. The adjustment of differences with the Senate, which favours a permanent ban, will send the legislation to the White House. \ ITALIAN CONSUL’S MISSION LONDON, August 24. (Received August 25, at 9 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent, Sir Percival Phillips, cabling from Addis Ababa, says: “The Abyssinians declare that Baron Falconi’s previous mission to Debramarcos not only entailed collecting military information, but registering the Gojjamite, ex-soldiers who fought with the Italians against the Senussi in the era of Ras Hailu, who is now imprisoned for a plot against the Emperor. Hailu encouraged his subjects to enlist in Eritrea in order to possess a modern army when they returned. They became excellent soldiers and now’ number 20,000, whom the Italians desire to incorporate in their native army. It is alleged that a small group, promised high pay by Baron Falconi, tried to cross the frontier to Eritrea, whereupon Dejazayale, Governor of Wolkait, ordered them to be flogged and sent home. The Abyssinians believe that the Italians planned to rescue Hailu in 1932, when the aviator Franclietti, who was killed in a crash near Cairo recently, .landed a triple-engined plane in Abyssinia. Authorities armed with rifles, on the plea of guarding such a valuable machine, so closely supervised him that he was unable to reach Hailu’s nlace of imprisonment. The Gojjamites still resent Hailu’s deposition and this disaffection has allegedly been fomented by the Italians. The Abyssinians assert that the country is over-run with spies in the guise of consuls, merchants and couriers.”

He added that Britain, in the 1891 anil 1894 protocols, recognised that almost all Ethiopia was included in the sphere of Italian influence, and the ThreePower Treaty of 1908 confirmed this. Britain’s interests in Nile waters were specially recognised in the accord between Signor Mussolini and Sir Donald Graham, the British Ambassador to Italy in 1925; therefore, Britain’s local interests were completely safeguarded. The western nations might despair of the future if their present disturbing depopulation should accompany a renunciation of the right to send civilising missions to people ignorant of civilisation. PLAIN REPLY DEMANDED LONDON, August 23. The Daily Herald, in a leader, considers that Signor Mussolini’s interview demands a plain reply. “ War is not justified by the assertion, even if it were; true, that Abyssinia is a modern weapon pointed at Italy's back, because Abyssinia agreed to submit anv dispute to the League of Nations ".nd abide by its decisions. Signor Mussolini suggests that so tremendous a movement as Rome’s return to Imperial status is not governed by the Covenant. Such a theory smashes the League to smithereens and brings the world face to face with ruin. If Italy can make such a claim, so can Germany.” League circles regard Signor Mussolini’s statement as the most forcible he has yet made regarding Italy’s attitude towards the League, but they point out that Article 19 was designed to ensure peaceful revision of treaties and international questions, whereas Italy is determined to revert to revision by force. Article 22 provides that backward races may be placed under the tutelage of morecivilised nations holding a League mandate, but Signor Mussolini refused this when England and France suggested it at the recent Three-Power Conference in Paris. MACHINERY OF THE LEAGUE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 23. After yesterday’s Cabinet meeting on the Italo-Abyssinian dispute it was that Ministers would remain in London and keep in touch with Sir Samuel Hoare for consultation. An informal meeting was held to-day at No. 10 Downing street at which Mr Ramsay MacDonald (Acting Prime Minister in Mr Baldwin’s absence on holiday abroad), Sir Samuel Hoare (Foreign Secretary), Mr Neville Chamberlain, Sir Bolton Eyres-Monsell and Lord Halifax were present. Mr MacDonald is travelling by to-night’s train to Lossiemouth.

No important developments in the situation are anticipated before the meeting of the League Council on September 4, though, as indicated yesterday, the British Government will pursue with the French Government the policy announced in Paris of seeking through diplomatic channels any opportunity to help the parties to the d’spute to solve their difficulties.

The expectation in . London is that Italy will attend the Council meeting. The hope is expressed in many quarters that she will then make a full statement of her case and that the machinery of the League will be given a chance to operate to produce a fair and reasonable setttlement without recourse to warlike measures. It is believed that there is strong world opinion behind the efforts to secure a peaceful solution, and it is not supposed that the possibilities of conciliation that are still open will be set aside lightly by any member of the League.

UNITED PRAYER URGED MONTREUX, August 24. (Received August 25, at 9 p.m.) The Universal Christian Council, representing the Anglican, American Orthodox Greek Church, the Danish and the French Catholic Churches, telegraphed to the Pope, the League, the Prime Ministers of England and France, Italy, Ethiopia and the United States appealing to the whole of Christendom to unite in prayer and declare that war undertaken without arbitration intolerably wrongs mankind and Christ’s law.

ITALY POURING IN TROOPS NAPLES, August 24. (Received August 25, at 9 p.m.) Pour thousand five hundred troops, including Signor Mussolini’s two sons, are leaving to-day aboard the Saturnia, which was built to hold 1500. JAPAN ADMIRES ITALY ROME, August" 23. General Ito, head of the Japanese military mission ll Italy, telegraphed the Air Under-secretary (General Vallel profoundly admiring the “ new great Italy,” the courage and faith of its people, and hoping for continuance ot the traditional friendship between Japan and Italy. BRITISH CABINET’S DECISION NEW SITUATION FOR ITALY LONDON, August 24. (Received August 25, at 1C p.m.) The Manchester Guardian’s political correspondent emphasises that the Cabinet’s decision means far more than reaffirmation of general familiar principles, because it has created a new situation for Signor Mussolini. “It is still possible, even likely, that Italian invasion of. Abyssinia will begin in September, but the British decision makes it very difficult to believe that military conquest of Abyssinia, as planned by Signor Mussolini, will be possible, for the certain restraints which are operating progressively can hardly fail decisively to affect Italy’s action. Such restraints would be imposed only as a last resource. No communication has so far been made to Signor Mussolini, but he will certainly be informed in due course of the difficulties confronting him if he persfsts in waging a war of conquest in defiance of the League.” The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent says reliable information reaching London suggests that Signor Mussolini is pondering deeply the prospect that Britain is prepared to_ co-operate in collective restraints. He insists that there is no common sense or justification in transforming a colonial war into_ a European conflagratipn. He complains that already Britain has compelled him to double his material effort by encouraging Abyssinian resistance. Nevertheless, he feels nothing must interfere with his plans for the military occupation of Abyssinia. He refuses to admit these should be regarded as a campagin of conquest; on the contrary, the operations envisaged are to be described as “ preventive police action.” Italy does not propose to recall the Minister from Addis Ababa, but is anxious to send a battalion of troops to reinforce the legation guard in the Abyssinian capital. The Sunday Times political correspondent says: “Official circles in London have now little hope that an TtaloAbyssinian war can be averted. This, however, will not lessen the Government’s determination tb utilise the League’s machinery to the fullest extent. The application of sanctions is complicated by the fact that Germany, Japan and America are outside the League. Japan has showns signs of sympathy with Abyssinia and might agree to cooperate with the League. Germany, however, will certainly be hostile. America has declared in favour of isolation and Britain is determined it will not be any fault of hers if the collective system fails.” PRECAUTIONS IN ABYSSINIA ADDIS ABABA, August 24, (Received August 25, at 10 p.m.) Haile Sellassie has ordered special measures to bo taken in the event of air raids. The arrival of enemy aircraft will be signalled by throe gunshots and the ringing of church bells. People must leave their houses immediately and shelter under trees or bushes. Where there is no such cover they should disperse into open spaces until a signal of seven shots indicates that it is safe to return to homes. SPAIN’S FEARS GIBRALTAR, August 14. (Received August 25, at 10 p.m.) Spain fears an uprising of Moroccan tribesmen if Ethiopia is attacked. The War Office .is creating large dumps of war material in -eadiness for trouble. ITALIAN HOSPITAL BASE ATHENS, August 24. (Received August 25, at 10 p.m.) Italy has evacuated the inhabitants of the island of Pscrimos, which they are converting into a military hospital base. ITALIAN MANOEUVRES BOLZANO, August 24. (Received August 25, at 10 p.m.) Half a million Italians are entrenched on the northern frontier. It is not only, the mightiest army ever mobilised in Europe for peacetime manoeuvres, but one of the most formidably equipped and armed organisations the world has ever seen. It is believed that the manoeuvres are Signor Mussolini’s answer to those who declare that Abyssinia has exposed Italy to European attacks. ITALIAN HEALTH CONSULTANT 'ROME, August 24. (Received August 25. at 11 p.m.) Signor JJussolini has appointed Castellani health consultant in East Africa.