ITALIAN SOMALIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22738, 26 November 1935, Page 11

ITALIAN SOMALIS

MUTINY REPORTED ALWAYS LEADING ATTACKS (United Press 1 Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ADDIS ABABA, November 24. Unconfirmed reports that the Abyssinians have recaptured Gorahai are considered improbable, as it is understood that the Emperor instructed Nasibu not to attack Gorahai, but let the Italians extend their line further northwards until a weak link in the chain appears, when the Ethiopians will launch u concerted attack. It is reported from Hanr tb*t the Italian Somalis, objecting to being used always as the spearhead of the attacks, mutinied and killed 30 Italians. TERROR-STRICKEN REFUGEES LONDON, November 21. An Addis Ababa communique alleges that 200 starving and terror-stricken refugees, some women hugging dead babies to their breasts, staggered into Abyssinian camps in the north, declaring that the population of Tigre was suffering intensely owing to the Italians commandeering grain and cattle, assaulting girls, bombing villages, and pursuing the inhabitants with machine gun fire. Large numbers of women and children haw died of starvation, and the people o* the territory are suffering such cruelties that they would flee, but they are' immediately shot down if they attempt /to cross the Italian lines. f ITALIAN REINFORCEMENTS NAPLES,.'November 24. The first detachment, of the Toy.'.re Blacksbirt Division, composed of Italians returned from abroad, gailed to reinforce General Graziani. SOUTH AFRICAN APOLOGY CAPETOWN, November 24. The Department of External Affairs has taken the unusual course of expressing extreme sorrow that " a South African newspaper should be so disrespectful to thef .head of the Italian Government." This apology follows reference in the Argus to Signor Mussolini's "beastly, mad-brained war and his perverted moral sense." ITALIAN WAR LOAN i ROME, November 24. The Ottobfe reports that £433,450,000 has been subscribed to an internal 5 per cent, loan floated to pay war expenses. Part of the subscription represents conversion of'other loans. AGAINST AGGRESSION SYDNEY, November 25. At a/meeting at Griffiths 60 Italians passed (unanimously a resolution protesting against Signor Mussolini's aggression in Abyssinia.. The resolution will be forwarded to the Italian Consul in SydnjSy. AMERICA'S EXPORT POLICY 'J >*., WASHINGTON, November 23. ~Jfn a press interview to-day, Mr Hull jojifed the newspaper correspondents in a ; general discussion of the war. trade situation, from which America's present policy can be described in general terms 'as follows: —In addition to direct implements of war, the export of which is .positively banned to both belligerents, the Government will maintain a list of " war essentials," which follows the list of goods, recently named by Mr Hull, such as oil, copper, lorries, tractors, scrap iron and scrap steel. There will be lio legal embargo on their shipment, although such shipments will be considered contrary to the " spirit " of the Neutrality Act, and if they appear excessive in relation to normal exports pressure will be exerted to curtail them, as has been done in the case of oil. Today it was suggested that the shipments of cotton to Italy appear to be booming, and Mr Hull said that, if the official figures proved such to be the case, tne question of adding cotton : to the war essential list would be considered. Thus, the Government's strategy appears to be an attempt to " freeze" the export of materials needed for war at about the normal volume without taking action that in Rome would be construed as punitive. Of course, the policy is equally applicable to both belligerents, but actually will be affected. TESTING TIME FOR LEAGUE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, November 23. In a speech at Edinburgh Captain Eden said: "The League in the past few months has been passing through a critical and testing time. So far they could maintain that it had faced the ordeal "with firmness, and, indeed, with a greater measure of success than many would have believed possible. .. For the first time in history collective action had been taken by some 50 nations against a member "of the League which had resorted to war in violation of its obligations under the Covenant. The duty of such action was unwelcome to all and involved, moreover, loss of trade to the participating countries, but the world had never before seen any similar manifestation and the unanimity and promptitude with which it was staged constituted something new in the annals of international life. ' The fact that the machinery had worked as a whole with such smoothness was decisive testimony to the unanimity of the nations and to their desire to co-operate in work which they believed to be in the interests of world peace. There was nothing the Government would more eagerly welcome than a settlement of the dispute acceptable to three parties to it—ltaly, Abyssinia and the League." GENEVA MEETING CANCELLED LONDON, November 24. (Received Nov. 25, at 9 p.m.) Because M. Laval's internal difficulties render it inconvenient for him to leave France during a critical week for the Ministry, which may not survive, the meeting of the Committee of Eighteen proposed at Geneva for November 29 has been cancelled, consequently the discussion on the ban of exports of oil to Italy has been deferred. Britain has indicated appreciation of M. Laval's situation and her readiness to agree to the postponement. AN OUTSPOKEN MESSAGE LONDON, November 25. (Received Nov. 25, at 9 p.m.) The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent says: "I have been authoritatively informed that France and Britain have agreed that the meeting of the Committee of Eighteen should be postponed in view of the grave tension which might attend the extension at preseut of sanctions to include an embargo on coal

and petrol. It has been stated that the decision was reached as a result Qf an extremely outspoken message to M. Laval from Signor Cerutti, who, on behalf of Signor Mussolini, pointed out that whereas Italy accepted the first two chapters of sanctions as not constituting acts of hostility, she would be forced to reverse her decision if coal and petrol were included in the embargo." It is understood that a similar warning was given to foreign ambassadors in Rome. Oueuvre says Signor Cerutti told M. Laval that oil sanctions would mean war. DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY LONDON, November 24, (Received Nov. 25, at 9 p.m.) ; The Daily' Telegraph interprets the week-end diplomatic activity as a new phase on the discussion on the Abyssinian war. Sir Eric Drummond on Saturday indicated to Signor Mussolini that Britain was available for direct approach when her services could hasten peace. This is the first occasion on which the broader aspects of the conflict have been broached in such meetings. It is to be feared, however, that Signor Mussolini allowed himself to be influenced against such assurances by other reports misrepresenting the attitude and aims of Britain. "The talk between Sir Eric Drummond and Signor Mussolini did not embrace the Italian strength in Libya oc British reinforcements in the Mediterranean, which has temporarily been abandoned as useless. REPLIES TO ITALIAN PROTEST LONDON, November 24. (Received Nov. 25, at 9 p.m.) The Times, in editorially applauding the substantial identity of the British, French, and Russian "replies to Italy, says: "There is sound sense in the Russian reminder that it was not entitled individually to give explanations regarding decisions collectively adopted by 50 States, especially as Italy can question the League direct. It is also sound diplomacy since the protests to individual Governments were obviously intended to exploit any divergence in the replies and weaken the moral effect of unanimity. Italy is now coining to recognise that the League is more of a reality than it has taken into account. Practically all the members are prepared to make sacrifices and incur risks to make effective the system of collective security." ITALIANS DECORATED LONDON, November 24. (Received Nov. 25, at 9 p.m.) The Times Asmara correspondent says: "Kissing them on both cheeks, General De Bono presented medals to Count Ciauo and his co-pilot, Captain Casero, whose aeroplane was riddled with bullets on three occasions. Other awards were made to Italian officers and men, and Askaris, some of whom were killed and some died of wounds. PROPOSED OIL EMBARGO LONDON, November 25. (Received Nov. 20, at 1 a.m.) The Morning Post's diplomatic correspondent says: "It is clear that M. Laval is opposed to an oil embargo. Meanwhile, the British Government is not neglecting any chances of a settlement." The correspondent learns from a reliable Italian authority that the nature of future military operations in North Abyssinia is closely connected with the possibility of something emerging from diplomatic talks. He understands that the Italian high command is not specially anxious to extend the advance in the Tigre, which would not accord with political aims, which distinguish between Amharic and non-Amharic regions. A search for the main Abyssinian force would mean occupation of more Abyssinia proper and make a settlement more remote. It would suit the Italians better to limit the advance in the Tigre to the present position, with the River Takazze as a natural boundary, and reorientate future expansion to the south-eastward, with a view to linking up with their troops in the south. The Italians hope to secure a wide strip of territory, including Danakil and Ogaden, and possibly Harrar, running from Eritrea to Somaliland. These provinces, claimed by Italy as nonAmharic, would be placed under an Italian mandate by the League and •secured to Italian possession by the disarmament of the rest of Abyssinia. These are the terms that Italy is waiting for the League to propose.