OIL SANCTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22807, 17 February 1936, Page 9

OIL SANCTIONS

REPORT BY EXPERTS EFFICACY OF EMBARGO (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, February 14. The official text of the report of the Committee of Experts on the possible effectiveness of an embargo on oil supplies to Italy has now been despatched from Geneva to all Governments. The appropriate Government departments in London will undertake careful examination of the report, but it is considered probable that the British representative at a meeting of the Committee of Eighteen will not be bound by any rigid instructions regarding the matter. It is recognised that the report does not raise any further question of principle.

The Times says the paramount importance of keeping the League States united has been constantly borne in mind by the British Government. It will cause little surprise, therefore, if Ministers feel that any declaration of fixed intention should bo avoided until the British representative has had a personal consultation at Geneva with his colleagues of the other League States. The eventual decision of the committee must be based on a business-like estimate of the efficacy of an oil embargo, and an estimate of the trend of United States policy, particularly as it would affect League oil-producing States, is expected to be the determining factor. ERITREAN DEFECTIONS HUNDREDS DESERT FROM ITALIANS BESSIE, February 14. (Received Feb. 16, at 5.5 p.m.) An official communique states that 650 Eritreans with rifles, machine guns and full equipment, deserted from the Italian southern army to Ras Desta, who expects additional deserters. The Daily Telegraph’s Addis Ababa correspondent says that the Abyssinian chief has arrived front' the northern front and has declared that _ there is always a chance of the Askaris deserting from the Italians because arc of the same race as the Abyssinians, but if they do not desert they are ferocious fighters and - clever in utilising ground. They are mobile and fearless, often resisting to the last man. The Italians on the contrary are not mobile and lack the dash of the Askaris and fear hand-to-hand fighting. A MINOR SUCCESS ITALIANS SURPRISED ROME, February 14. A communique admits a small Abyssinian success when an Italian observation post at Curati, north-west of Gerlogubi, was attacked. An Italian detachment simultaneously surprised and destroyed an Abyssinian detachment at. Ballei, capturing arms of British manufacture. ITALY’S PLIGHT A FRENCH REPORT LONDON, February 15. (Received Feb. 10, at 9 p.m.) The Daily Herald’s Paris correspondent says that French East African wireless stations claim to have picked up and decoded Marshal Badoglio’s private message to Signor Mussolini revealing that Marshal Badoglio is pessimistic regarding the military situation. The morale of the troops is poor and they are also poor physically, for which he blames inadequate food supplies. A FATAL BOTTLE KILLED BY UNUSUAL MISSILE 1 ADDIS ABABA, February 15, (Received Feb. 16, at 9 p.m.) After discharging a dozen bombs harmlessly, an Italian aeroplane accidentally dropped a bottle of chianti which struck and killed one of Ras Seyoum’s warriors. NATIVE PATROL ROUTED THIRTY MEN KILLED MOGADISCIO, February 15. A reconnoitring patrol of native troops fell foul of Abyssinians 60 miles north of Gerlogubi and retreated with the loss of 30 killed, but they claim that they achieved their object by revealing the strength of the enemy in this area.