TREATY OBLIGATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22717, 1 November 1935, Page 9

TREATY OBLIGATIONS

FLAGRANTLY VIOLATED BY ITALY THE INVASION OF ABYSSINIA MR F. B. KELLOGG'S DENUNCIATION TRADE TRANSACTIONS OPPOSED -»-?■'-: "- ' (United Press Association.) .' (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) :i - - ST. PAUL (Minnesota), October 31. : (Received October 31, at 1 1 130 p.m.) : The former Secretary of State, Mr F. B. Kellogg, declared United States, in common with other countries, "can - andl should designate Italy as the aggressor for flagrant violation of the sovereignty of another nation. The United States shbuld denounce Italy's violation of her treaty obligations and announce that it will take no step to interfere or nullify the measures other nations are now taking to put a stop to this war. What some American people seem to have forgotten, and what the Italian people or their Government seem entirely to have ignored, is that when Italy invaded "Ethiopia, thus beyond a shadow of doubt proceeding to use -war-as an instrument of national policy, she violated the treaty with, the United States and thus violated the supreme : .j law of our land." He referred to the Kellogg-Briand Treaty. He expressed the hope that those who. were considering .trading-with Italy would have borne home to them constantly ? that W supplying oil, cotton, or machinery they were aiding and abetting a nation that was treating a solemn treaty as a scrap of paper.

DEFENCE OF MAKALE COUNTER ATTACK LIKELY '*- ■ LONDON, October 30. Reports ' j from- Asmara indicate the • possibility- of- the Abyssinians carrying !ousji counter .attack..in \ defence of , Makale, led by Sas Kassa, with 100,000 warriors against General .Santihi's first army corps on. the .left wing, of the , Italians, whose scouts discovered intensified" Abyssinian concentrations south,of Pebra Sion. and Edaga Hamus. .The Italian centre occupies a : commanding p'ositiohi haying crowned heights overlooking Makale from the north,, while its patrols are: within five miles of the "town;' . " ; : ;: -'"' ;'• ■'■-"]' ; ; '\ : ■' '; "','/ . - :! : ; : -[ [ ; THE OGADEN • AREA \ ' -ADDIS ABABA,: October.3o, ; the return of Dr Hawariat gives colour. to the supposition that, the Abyssinians-are planning an important . jnpv'ement^.under his, leadership in the Ogaden' area r where Nasibu_~,,an.d Desta 'are preparing for an offensive ...between ".i lie Webbe ShibelL arid Fafan Rivers. Dr Hawariat will, therefore, command ,205,000 tioops. ■.. . Major-Temperley, apropos of the report : 'that'sooo camels are being brought from the Sudan by the Abyssinians, considers that these'Vin be mobilised- to replace . railway transport if the .railway is de- ; stroyed. . PROBLEM FOR THE ITALIANS ; _f. , LONDON, October 30. (Received Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.) The Daily Mail says: "The walls of Harrar city have been breached at five : . points' Jo enable speedy Abysa-nian evacuation if necessary. Heavy traffic has rendered the Harrar-Jijiga road almost impassable. All is quiet on the Ogadeu front; but the concentration of troops may - presage an Abyssinian offensive when th(§ present light rains cease." The Daily Mail's -orrespondeii: at Asmara re-emphasises that the communications of r the Italians are a supreme problem. He praises their engineering proficiency, but urges the ';•• avoidain-p of confusion, saving wear and tear on the roads by"lorries by organising one-way traffic every alternate 12 hours, eschewing heavy vehicles and grouping others iri' convoys of similar speeds, which should be reduced as far as possible, and establishing shunting stations, traffic police; telephones, and lighting at dangerous bends. • GUNS FOR ABYSSINIA : ; '"'■' ;ADDIS ABABA, October 30. -*.-, Abyssinian, resistance to any form .of Italian control.appears to be stiffening. The Emperor, imthanking a deputation . of merchants who piled bags containing 85,000 silver thalers at his feet, assured them that Abyssinia would never accept Italian rule. The merchants declared that they would gladly sacrifice their 'last drop of blood as well as their money for the-country's independence. Hundreds of machine guns, mostly of British manufacture, which had just arrived, v. ere carried through the streets to impress the population. BRITISH MILITARY ATTACHES ADDIS ABABA, October 30. Britain has appointed Major Hold and Captain Taylor military assistant and military .attache respectively. This is her first such representation. BRITAIN AND THE LEAGUE NO CHANGE OF POLICY (British Official Wireless i . RUGBY, October 30. , ..In the course of an election speech in his constituency to-day, Sir Samuel Hoare, speaking of the international situation, .referred to what he called a "diverting but' very transparent game," which consisted of making mysteries and spreading innuendoes. Those whispers and innuendoes, of which the latest examples concerned his forthcoming visit to Geneva, were electioneering pure and simple. Opponents of the Government were trying to make ignorant people believe that there was some disreputable intrigue behind this . visit, and that it implied some sinister ehange in policy. Sir Samuel Hoare

said: "I am going to Geneva to pe there whilst very important discussions are, taking place on the application of sanctions; secondly, T wanted to take the opportunity that is always offered by these . important meetings of the League to have a talk with M. Laval and some other prominent Ministu* of memher States. What could be more natural or simple?" As to the all«ged change in policy, let them get that out of their heads once, and for all. 'ibere had been and would be no change of policy, which had always been perfectly simple—namely, loyalty to the League and readiness to help with any honourable settlement of the dispute that was acceptable to the three parties con-cerned—-the League, ttaly,. and Ethiopia. . That was the policy he would support at Geneva. Referring to the exchanges which had taken place with a view to tirc'ing a basis of settlement, Sir Samuel Hoare said that an attempt was being made to give the impression that "we are trying to side-track the: League and do a disreputable deal with Italy behind its 1 back.' Thirve; Already said that there, is nothing to conceal about what has been happening. It is common property that several .Governments nave_ recently been considering the possibilities of a peaceful settlement, arid that rhi British and French Governments in particular have been exchanging .views as to what might form the basis of future riegotiations. ;FbrWhe time .bcin„' vyp are engaged in an exchange- of "lews. Nothing has yet emerged, and ,1?; anything definite does emerge: we shad of course, take the earliest opportuuuy to report to the League. If, eventually, a settlement is proved possible, that settlement would, as I have stated over and over again, be within the framework of the League, and have to be satisfa'tory to the League, Italy, and Abysinia; That is the whole story." GENEVA COMMITTEES (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 30. . .(Receiyed Oct. 31*. at, 5.5 p.m,' Captain Eden and other member* of t'.. British delegation left London to-day to attend meetings of the League (ommittees at Geneva to-morrow. Tin date will be fixed for concerted application of certain economic measures against Italy recommended at the previous session to League members engaged !u the fulfilment of their obligations under Article 16 of the Covenant. According to a Geneva message to night 41 nations have notified the League that they will put into effect an arms embargo against Italy, 37 have appliVd the measures recommended for withholding loans and credits, and the same number hay; announced their readiness to apply the proposals for prohibiting imports coming fron. Italy and of the export to Italy of key products. Finally, 19 States have accepted the recommendations regaling mutual assistance. Si. Samuel Hoare and M. Laval are expected at Geneva on Friday and i' is generally anticipated that a otat 'inent will.be made at some stage of the n eetir.gs on, the subject of. recent diplon atie exchanges which have been'faking place with cb" object of discovering a possible Lnsis of settlement within the framework of the. Covenant and acceptable to the two parties to the dispute, hi. louden it is regarded as unlikely, <n the light of the progress so far achieved, that there will be anything to report beyond an account of the endeavours which have been made and a redefinition of the essential principles, which are. that. any proposals for a settlement must be acceptable io the League. Italy, ai d Ethiopia. : , THE PARIS DISCUSSIONS f British Official Wireless) ftUGBY, October 30. The proposals for a settlement or the Italo-Abyssinian war, which were brought to the notice of the JJiitish Government, as enraged from the recent Franco-Italian diplomatic exchanges, were subjected to a most careful exnmi nation in London, but they are considered to bi unlikely to prove acceptable to Abyssinia and to the League, within the framework of which it has Leen stated a settlement must be rea« lied In view of the special responsibility entrusted to the British and French Governments in the earlier stages of th dispute, and the fact that they are in complete agreement as to the general auditions to which any settlement must conform, it has been thought wise to consider, and, if possible, to agrep upon m outline of settlement which in th J view of these Governments would be fair an! acceptable to Abyssinia, Italy, aid the League. For this purpose the tietd of the Abyssinian department of the British Foreign Office has been in consultation in Paris with the corresponding official at the Quai d'Orsay. These ex-

perts have not yet been able to reach a final conclusion, but it is understood tLat considerable progress has been made on a plan which it is believeo involves closer precision of the proposals submitted to Italy by Britain and France during the Three-Power Conference which was held in Paris in A.v.;ist. The reports that last week's discussions in Paris were designed to dr-«w up a peace plan for immediate submi.-siou to Rome and the League are untrue. The main purpose of the discussions was to discover a plan which might serve as a criterion by which future proposals might be judged. AUSTRIA'S ARMS EMBARGO ' LONDON, October 80. It is authoritatively stated in London that Britain will regard as to>> flow fixing any date after the midih of November for the commencemei.* of sanctions. The most significant sanctions dtnuon is Austria's prohibition of delivvjy of armaments tc both belligerents in < bedience to the proscription of the of St. Germain. It is admitted thai Ibe decision is not backed with enthusiasm because two of the largest munition factories are located in a very depressed area. Furthermore, it is realised that the orders which Austria rejects Germany might accept, raid °ven deliver through Austrian territory. The de-ision is presumably due. to both in Vienna and Budapest, jf Britain's strong views. AN OFFICIAL DENIAL LONDON, October 31. (Received Nov. 1, at. 1 a.m.) The Daily Telegraph's - Vienna correspondent reports that it has officially been denied that Austria placed an embargo on the export of arms to Italy or Abyssinia. SOUTH AFRICA'S EMBARGO LONDON, October 31. (Received Nov. 1, at 1 a.m.) The Times Pretoria correspondent reports that a proclamation has been issued placing an embargo on.the export of all war material to Italy and prohibiting transit through the Union of any such material. Financial transactions with the Italian Government or subjects are also forbidden, and contravention is punishable by a fine not exceeding £IOOO or imprisonment not exceeding a year, or both. ITALIAN PRESS OUTBURSTS LONDON, October 31. (Received Nov. 1, at 1 a.m.) The Daily Telegraph's Rome correspondent eays France and Belgium are being bitterly attacked for having "obeyed Britain's orders" in imposing sanctions. The newspapers publish 1915 French cartoons reflecting the Allies joy at Italy's intervention in the war. " The Belgians, English, French and many others who trembled in 1914 and 1915 may he sure of one thing," says the Ottobre. "If they have already forgotten those years, Fascist Italy will, never forget the year 1935:" ABYSSINIAN APPOINTMENTS PARIS, October 30. Woldc Mariatn has been appointed Abyssinian Minister at Geneva and Mariam Ayeleu has been apiMjinted Abyssinian representative to the League in succession to Dr Hawariat. * BRITISH EXPORTS TO ITALY / LONDON, October W/. The Board of Trade points out that the Government is not responsible for securing payment for British goods shipped to Italy; £2,013.8701 awaits transfer from Italy to Britain, while £1,000,774 represents credits due to Italian exporters. ITALY'S MERCANTILE FLEET ROME, October fcO. A royal decree has-been published regulating the reorganisation of tlw merc.'ntile fleet in the event of war, enabling a portion of it to co operate with the navy, and authorising the Ministry of Marine to order the arming of such merchant vessels as it thinks fit. Mothers and widows of victims of the Great War are organising committers to make house-to-house visits to counteract the effect of sanctions. '...'. AMERICAN TRADE WITH ITALY WASHINGTON, October 30. (Received Oct. 31, at 9 p.m.) ] ' The Administration has gone a step further in its passive efforts to halt the war. between Italy and Ethiopia. After several conferences at White House during,the past 24 hours, President Rodsevelt and Mr Cordell Hull each issued a statement which is tantamount to declaring for the cessation of all American trade with Italy. The President's pronouncement declared he had carried into effect the "will and intent" of neutrality legislation. He reiterated the Government's determination not to become involved in the controversy, and then closed with the statement: "However, in the course of the war tempting trade opportunities may be offered to our people to supply materials which will prolong the war. I do not believe that the American people will wish for abnormally increased promts that temporarily might be secured by greatly extending our trade in such materials, nor would they wish the struggles on the battlefield to be prolonged because of the profits accruing to a comparatively small number of American citizens. Accordingly the American Government is.-being kept informed concerning al] shipment* consigned for export to both belligerents." Mr Hull's statement called attention to the President's proclamation designed to discourage commercial dealings witli the belligerents, and urged that it be honoured. He added: "I again icpeat that early peace, with the restoration of normal business, is far sounder and tar more preferable to temporary and risky war profits." With an almost profound • fear of being involved in any European imbroglio, American sentiment is nevertheless being played upon by every strong forces of feeling concerning obvious injustices being practised in " making the war instrument a national policy." The man in the street would willingly make some sacrifice short of being involved in war in order to aid Ethiopia. Western sentiment is strongly behind President Roosevelt that the United States should assume the strictest neutrality in order to avoid being involved in the controversy. Business in the east, however, strongly objects to neutrality which makes \{ impossible to trade with Italy or take advantage of business opportunities that Italy's expedition to Ethiopia offers, and it ha-? attacked President Roosevelt's policy. M. LAVAL OPTIMISTIC LONDON, October 31 (Received Nov. 1, at 0.30 a.m.) The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent says: "Write what you like regarding the negotiations being pursued. I remain indifferent.'' M. Laval told newspapermen last night regarding the conflict between Italy and Abyssinia. "All I can say is I am fully confident that we will succeed."

THE ROME CONVERSATION LONDON, October 31. (Received Nov. 1, at 1 a.m.) Tlie Times Rome correspondent says: " The Government Spokesman admitted that Signor Mussolini and Sir Eric Drummond had an important conversation, but no precise peace plan had emerged. The present problem was to improve the relations between England and Italy and eliminate the causes of friction. He added that, if France and Britain had proposals to make, they would carefully be considered if presented to the Italian delegation at Geneva. Italy, however, did not anticipate any immediate settlement because of the various different parties which must be considered and satisfied." SANCTIONS AGAINST ITALY OPERATIVE IN THE DOMINION (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 31. Before applying any further sanctions against Italy, the New Zealand Government will await the decision of the League of Nations Co-ordination Committee, which meets to-day. The Government has already brought into operation sanctions on the export of war material and finance, these having become effective as from Monday last under the legislation passed by Parliament last week. The Government is in direct and constant touch with every development in the matter through radio contact with Geneva. A Gazette notice states that the Minister of Finance has appointed the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand as a person from whom permission must be obtained to the sending out of New Zealand of any remittances for any purpose specified in the League of Nations Sanctions (Financial) Regulations.