PEACE PROPOSALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22826, 10 March 1936, Page 9

PEACE PROPOSALS

ITALY’S ACCEPTANCE THE ABYSSINIANS SUSPICIOUS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, March 8. The Addis Ababa correspondent of The Times says Signor Mussolini’s acceptance of the peace proposals have aroused suspicion, because the negotiations will obviously break down, owing to the divergence of the Italian and Abyssinian views. It is felt that Signor Mussolini either wishes to use the interval to press on into Abyssinia, which does not perturb Emperor Scllassie, because the deeper the penetration before the rains the better for the defenders, or he realises Sellassio’s difficulty in imposing an armistice upon widespread guerrillas who were so long restrained before being allowed to fight BOMBING OF RED CROSS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, March 8. Official confirmation has been received in London from the British Minister in Addis Ababa that the British ambulance camp Was again bombed on March 4. Sir Eric Drummond has conveyed to Signor Suvich the British Government’s protest regarding the bombing of the same ambulance on March 3. In response to the Ambassador’s request, Signor Suvich undertook to institute a thorough inquiry into the occurrence and take measures to prevent a recurrence. PROTEST TO THE LEAGUE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, March 8. An official protest against the bombing of Quoram, signed by M. Hcrouy, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, was handed to the League of Nations to-day in the following terms; —“The Ethiopian Government again enters a protest against the second Italian bombing of the British Red Cross ambulance near Quoram. There were happily none killed or wounded, as the staff, together with the sick and wounded, were removed from the ambulance before the bombing took place. The Red Cross ambulance and the British flags, all of large dimensions, were, however, left prominently displayed all over the camp. It is impossible for the Ethiopian and foreign Red Cross societies to continue their humanitarian work if they are obliged to abandon the ambulances to escape bombing by Italian * civilisers.’ ” RAS MULUGHETA’S DEATH ADDIS ABABA, March 8. An official message states that Ras Mulugheta died at Quoram from pneumonia due to campaign exposure. He was 70 years of age. Government officials are completing evacuation of the palace, moving equipment to hiding places. Many trenches and dug-outs are being constructed. The municipality has appealed to motorists to lend their cars to transport the wounded in the event of an air raid. An Italian aeroplane, after bombing Quoram, fell in Lake Ashangi; the occupants are believed to have been drowned. Regulars are pursuing the bands who captured two of the four Italian avm tors who fell into Lake Ashangi on March 2. The remaining two were drowned. Seven aeroplanes bombed Jiran, killing 30 civilians. Dther damage was im material. This is the first raid in the Jimma province. ITALIAN OPERATIONS CEASE SIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S ORDER ASMARA, March 9. (Received March 9, at 11 p.m.) Italian bombing planes which were scouring the interior of Abyssinia weie recalled by radio while in the middle of a flight to-day and ordered to return to their bases. Wireless flashed the news that Signor Mussolini had accepted the Geneva proposals for negotiations to end the war. Orders were given to cease the bombardment and the operations actually in course of execution. Marshal Badoglio has returned to Asmara. SURPRISE IN LONDON LONDON, March 9. (Received March 9, at 11 p.m.) The news from Asmara reporting the order to suspend the operations of Italian aircraft came as a surprise to well-informed diplomatists in London, as no intimation of such intention on the part of the Italian Government had been given either from Italy or from the theatre of war. The decision is generally regarded as indicating that Italy regards the new situation in Europe as having an importance overshadowing the dispute with Abyssinia. JUBILATION IN ASMARA ASMARA, March 9. (Received March 9, at 11 p.m.) Scenes of jubilation were witnessed when the news became known, and Marshal Badoglio was cheered by an elated crowd. The news is taken to herald peace with conquest. RED CROSS BOMBED AGAIN LONDON, March 9. (Received March 10, at 2 a.m.) Simultaneously with the news that Italy had suspended hostilities cornea the news from Addis Ababa of the heavy bombing of Ergaaleni. The British ambulance was also bombed a third time. It appears that the latter outrage occurred at 7.30 while Red Cross officials in London were telegraphing to Abyssinia for details of the second bombing. It is believed that as a consequence of successive attacks the elabor-ately-equipped unit has been wiped out. The personnel, however, is still striving to carry on. It is uncertain whether the bombardment of Ergaalem occurred before or after the truce, about which it is impossible to obtain confirmation.