MANDATE FOR ITALY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22718, 2 November 1935, Page 13

MANDATE FOR ITALY

SUGGESTION FROM ROME AN OUTSPOKEN PRESS ARTICLE POSSIBLY INSPIRED BY POPE AVOIDING VASTER CONFLAGRATIONS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) .ROME, November 1. (Received November 2, at 1 a.m.) "The League should no longer hesitate in deciding to grant Italy a mandate over Abyssinia if it is desired to avoid vaster conflagrations in Europe, and perhaps the world," declares an outspoken editorial which will appear in Saturday's issue of Oivilta Oattolica, a leading Catholic periodical whose editorials are invariably written under the direct inspiration of the Pope. " Italy," the article will declare, "is entitled to an Abyssinian mandate, if not by considerations of strict justice, at least for considerations of equity, since she received nothing during the distribution of mandates among the Powers after the World War." The article concludes by urging English and French Catholics to have a broader understanding of Italy's necessities.

THE BATTLE FRONTS BIG ITALIAN PUSH. EXPECTED ADDIS ABA£A, October 81. All Indications are for the commencement of a big Italian push towards Deasye. It is reported that wild tribesmen annihilated an Italian supply convoy in the heart of the Danakil Desert. ABYSSINIAN STRATEGY DURBAN, October 31. The Swede, General Virgin, who is en route home after resigning his position as military adviser to Abyssinia, expressed the opinion that the Italians would never reach Addis Ababa, and that the Abyssinians would not attack until the Italians were a long way from their bases. Ogaden included areas of desert covered with bush, in which men could remain concealed at a range of 60 yards. Near Assab there was a great desert in which the Italians were unable to live through lack of water. "If the Italians say that hundreds of their troops are not dying from sicknesß, they are lying. They were dying before the war commenced." PEACE DISCUSSIONS THE POPE'S INITIATIVE PARIS, October 31. Count Ferdinand Brinon, in an article in L'lnformation, declares that the peace discussiono are partly due to the Pope's initiative. The Pope had a long conversation with Signor Mussolini and urged an honest settlement to include a maritime outlet for Abyssinia. The Pope subsequently instructed diplomatic representatives to urge in the interest of their Governments to hasten negotiations. M. Laval yesterday conferred with the Papal Nuncio. THE FRENCH PROPOSALS. LONDON, November 1. (Received Nov. 1, at 11.45 p.m.) The Times Geneva correspondent points out that no new peace proposals were presented to the Co-ordination Committee or discussed by the delegates. There is no likelihood of new proposals of a detailed or substantial nature being advanced when Sir Samuel Hoare, M. Laval and Baron Aloisi arrive. Nevertheless, the Daily Mail's Geneva correspondent learns that Baron Aloisi had a long consultation with Signor Mussolini, which is believed to indicate the existence of a peace plan, which it is hoped will form a basis of negotiations. It is felt that the Abyssinian surrenders will facilitate a settlement.. The Times Paris correspondent says M. Laval," before leaving for Geneva, was informed of the British views on the French tentative proposals, indicating that they need much modification before they are acceptable to the League, Britain and Abyssinia. THE POPE AND SANCTIONS VATICAN CITY, October 31. The Pope informed prelates throughout the world that sanctions would not affect Catholic institutions in Rome. LORD CECIL'S VIEWS LONDON, October 31. Lord Cecil, at a League of Nations meeting at the Albert Hall, advocated joint action to sever communications between Italy and Abyssinia. He believed that the British fleet was strong enough, but did not advocate lone action. If France were willing to join, their sea superiority could not be resisted by Italy. Sir Austen Chamberlain, at the same meeting, said: "If the question were put—would you, as a last resort, adopt military sanctions?—l think you would be bound to say: The League, as the policeman of the world, must not be afraid." NO ARMOURED PEACE LONDON, October 31. Mr Baldwin, in a wireless address, said: "We want nc* armoured peace, but unless we are careful it is all the peace we shall have." POLICY OF ISOLATION (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 31. "Of all currents of British policy over half a century none has run more truly or more steadily than friendship for Italy," said Mr Stanley Baldwin in a ■ speech at a meeting of the Peace Society in London. Dealing with the suggested policy of isolation, he said:

"I am told that the broils of other nations are not ours. Does anyone think that war between great nations can be limited without someone to pull them up when they go over the touch line, and that meanwhile we can trade profitably and happily with both belligerents alike in prosperous neutrality? Modern war between any two great Powers is like one of the great convulsions of Nature in the early geological ages—the map of the world has to be redrawn at the end." Of co-operative efforts for peace, he said, they meant nothing if they were not prepared in the end, after grave and careful trial, to take «|ftion to enforce the League's judgment. ™ Despite defections the League lived. COMMITTEE OF EIGHTEEN (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 31. The Committee of Eighteen and the full Co-ordination Committee, composed of representatives of 52 States, met at Geneva to-day. At a later meeting M. Vasconcellos reported that 50 States had agreed to the committee's recommendation for an arms embargo against Italy, 47 had signified assent to the recommendation for withdrawal of loans and credit, and 46 had adhered to the recommendations for prohibition of imports from Italy. The only non-member State to reply to the recent communication by the chairman of the Co-ordination Committee is the United States. It is expected that formal acknowledgment of the reply will be approved by the committee and despatched to the United States Government. GOODS EXEMPT FROM BOYCOTT GENEVA, October 31. 1 The Committee of Eighteen decided that Italian goods fully paid for before October 19 be exempt from boycott, and that contracts for deliveries on which no payments have been made shall be cancelled for the period of the sanctions. EGYPT ADHERES TO SANCTIONS GENEVA, October 31. The Co-ordination Committee adjourned pending reports from various sub-committees. Egypt, though a non-League member, informed the League that she had decided to adhere to the economic and financial sanctions. OPTIMISM IN FRANCE LONDON, October 31. The French optimism regarding an Italo-Abyssinian settlement is not shared by Italy. Signor Mussolini told students at the new Rome University that sanctions would be opposed by Italy's implacable resistance and most supreme contempt. He shouted: "You university students will be in the first line." The students roared " Yes." BRITAIN AND FRANCE LONDON, October 31. The Manchester Guardian's Geneva correspondent says that political circles in Paris affect to know for certain that M. Laval and Sir Samuel Hoare are in complete agreement, not only concerning terms suggested by Italy as a basis for discussion, but also in respect to mutual assistance in the event of a belligerent attacking. It is understood that the agreement embraces not merely naval but military assistance. AUSTRALIA AND SANCTIONS CANBERRA, November 1. A Bill to impose economic sanctions against Italy was introduced in the House of Representatives by the Attorney-general (Mr Menzies). Members of both Labour Parties, except Mr Blackburn, Federal Labour member for Burke (Viotoria), opposed each preliminary move for the introduction of the Bill, demanding divisions at every stage. Mr Menzies declared that the adherence of Australia to the policy of sanctions was based upon the profound belief that collective action would be productive, not of war, but of prevention or limitation of war. STUDENTS' RIOTS IN ROME ~ ROME, October 31. Following Mussolini's speech, 200 students, carrying banners inscribed " Down With England," demonstrated outside the British Embassy and Consulate, shouting abuse until the police threw the hotheads into the neighbouring fountains. After that, they attacked British shops, smashing the windows and electric lights, and demanded the removal of the name from the Hotel Angleterre, which the manager promised. The police eventually dispersed the rioters.

LIBERATION OF SLAVES LONDON, November 1. (Received Nov. 1, at 6.5 p.m.) General de Bono announces that the Black Shirts IJirst Army Corps occupied the zone of Mai Uece wells, between Adagamus and Makale. The Second Army Corps and the native corps set free 16,000 slaves. Askaris in the Ogaden district dispersed enemy posts north-west of the River Daua, General Graziani's troops continued to advance towards Gorahai. Askaris captured Fort Scillave, 60 miles south-west of Gorahai after a night march through a thickly wooded swampy zone, surprising the Abyssinians and assaulting the fort by bayonet in darkness. The defenders fled. An Addis Ababa communique says the Italians entrenched at South Moussali and advanced northwards seeking an advanced air base. The Abyssinians are continually harrassing the march, adopting guerilla tactics and sniping at night time. It is believed that the Italians are moving their base to avoid clashing with French interests. Presumably this is the first step in the advance towards Dessie. BRITISH PRECAUTIONS LONDON, October SI. (Received Nov. 1, at 5.5 p.m.) The discussions in various capitals have apparently not brought peace nearer. It appears that Sir Eric Drummond's conversations with Signor Mussolini were necessary to explain the British attitude in- view of the Italian expectations of a reduction of the naval forces ijs a corollary to the Italian withdrawal of a division from Libya, which Sir Eric Drummond intimated was satisfactory as far as it goes, nevertheless it leaves on the Egyptian frontier large Italian formations in excess of the normal establishment, aggregating 75,000 men, many aeroplanes and tanks, which are about five-fold tKe British strength in Egypt. Sir Eric reiterated that the British precautions were essential as a minimum in view of the Italian press attacks regarding Malta and other British possessions. Although the attacks had been lessened it was still conisdered that Britain's actions and motives were misrepresented. Accordingly the precautions could not be relaxed. ITALIANS' CAUTIOUS ADVANCE LONDON, October 31. (Received Nov. 1, at 5.5 p.m.) The Times Asmara correspondent says: " The Italian positions at Aksum, Adowa and Adigrat are unchanged, but sufficient forces are advancing to protect Jtha engineers who are constructing new roads and to consolidate the occupied terrain. The work is being continued behind a screen of tanks supported by artillery and infantry, which keeps the troops active and interested. The Italians' cautious advance is also intended to avoid crashing a way through and injuring the population, as it is hoped to establish goodwill In the occupied areas, which thus far has been fruitful. Whether this policy will be possible when the Italians confront true Abyssinians is : uncertain. Italians are pouring in daily from Italy. All are of fine physique. The Italians have renewed activity in the neighbourhood of Dolo, where there has been bitter fighting, with serious casualties." ETHIOPIA'S FINANCES LONDON, October 31. The Sun-Herald says that Ethiopia is not impoverished, according to correspondents, including Mr Stuart in the News-Chronicle, who declared that at least £50,000,000 is available for arms and ammunition. The bulk of the money has been shipped in silver and gold to European and American banks. Emperor Seilassie's entire fortune, estimated at £30,000,000, which he inheiited from his father, is placed at the disposal of the Government.