TENSION EASES.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13086, 21 October 1935, Page 5

TENSION EASES.

FRANCE SAYS “ YES " TO BRITAIN.

MUSSOLINI LISTENS TO REASON.

ITALIAN VICTORIES DISCOUNTED.

United Press Assn. —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 19.

The international situation is believed to have taken a more favourable turn after days of activity in Rome and Paris. Signor Mussolini had a lengthy conference with Sir Eric Drummond, the British Ambassador, this morning, and received the Comte de Chambrun, the French Ambassador this afternoon. Sir Eric Drummond assured Mussolini that Britain would confine her action regarding Abyssinia to the demands of her obligations as a League member. A Rome message states that Sir Eric Drummonds’ statement was received with the ’greatest pleasure and France’s “friendly understanding and co-operation” were highly appreciated.

It is understood Sir Erie Drummond informed Mussolini that while the fears of Britain acting against Italy are groundless there is no question of bargaining. The withdrawal of Italian troops in Libya, would be regarded as a satisfactory gesture showing that the Italian misunderstanding of British intention had been dispelled. It would he impossible, however, to alter the disposition of. the British forces until there was a satisfactory manifestation that Anglo-1 till ia n tension had been reduced.

The British United Press Rome correspondent says a joint AngloItalian communique is being issued to-morrow in which Britain affirms that she never raised the question of military sanctions and does not intend to take measures hoing bey end the League’s collective action which Italian circles understand refers to a blockade without League co-opera-tion. The Italian part of the communique expresses gratification. MUSSOLINI CORDIAL. A further Rome message says Mu?-* soli ni’s conversation with Sir Eric Drummond was cordial, resulting in the situation being described as much brighter, while anti-British feeling has been soothed. M. Laval’s conference with the British Ambassador resulted in the French reply regarding the British fleet in the* Mediterranean being transmitted to London this evening two days before it was anticipated, as it was thought M. Laval w ould insist on Cabinet’s approval. FRANCE PLEDGED. The Embassy communique says M. Laval has given the British Ambassador the fullest answer to the various points raised in the recent discussions which cannot be disclosed until Sir Samuel Hoare has studied them, but it is understood M. Laval’s expressed opinion was a plain affirmative. The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent says authoritative circles declare that M. Laval’s reply dissipates all Franco-British misunderstanding, M. Laval giving an unequivocal undertaking to carry out his obligations. The Daily Telegraph s Paris correspondent says M. Laval’s reply pledges France’s co-opera-tion in ali collective measures under the Covenant.

The Times’ Paris correspondent says various factors contributed to M. Rival’s unexpectedly early reply, notably the serious alarm among his own colleagues at* the continued lny, also the growing British impatience at his apparent hesitation. WAR WILL NOT SPREAD. A Paris message says the text of the French reply to Britain is not being published. It is considered the upshot of the English, French and Italian conversations lias been a guarantee that the war will not spread, hut they do not bung the Abyssinian hostilities nearer to a conclusion. The semi-official Temps now anticipates the immediate withdrawal of Italian reinforcements from Libya consequent on the reduction of British naval strength in the Mediterranean now that- French support is assured. The Daily Mail's Paris correspondent. states it is understood on instructions from London the British Ambassador told M. Laval that Britain would withdraw two battleships from the Mediterranean if France would send two of hers then.*. It is also reported that on M. Laval’s initiative Mussolini has been asked to state his minimum proposals for an I talc*-Abyssinian. settlement. The Guardian's diplomatic correspondent says M. Laval’s affirmative to Britain should end the Anglo--1 til linn tension. It is long since the situation between, two great Poweis lists l>een so serious. Egypt and Britain must insist on the termination of the anti-British agitation and the withdrawal of at least part of the Italian iorces on the Egyptian frontier, though there can. he no question of withdrawing the fleet in return for such action The fleet is not m the* Mediterranean to counter-act Italian move* in Libya, but m order to defend British communications, harbours and naval bases. An Italian diplomat told a British United Press Agency representative that Italy will not permit warlike action against Britain in the Mediterranean and was also prepared to guarantee British rights to colonies in. Africa. Moreover Italy does not seek to menace Egypt and has even withdrawn men and war materials from the Egyptian frontier. She is also prepared to guarantee that she has no intention of forming native army in Abyssinia to be used a. s a

menace to British possessions. Even if Article 16 of the Covenant is applied Italy will keep her head if Britain does the same and nothing untoward will happen. ATTACK ON ADOWA SOON. LONDON, October 18. Before sailing for Djibouti from Marseilles, Mr Teela Hawariat echoed the Emperor Haile Selassie’s defiant message to the League of Nations: “War ha*s not even begun.” Messages from Rome and Addis Ababa suggest that this is much more truthful than Italian diplomatists’ propaganda, inasmuch as Rome guardedly admits that Field-Marshal Badoglio, who may yet supersede General de Bono as Commander-:n Chief iit Abyssinia, anticipates a powerful Abyssinian offensive upon Adowa. He bases this conclusion upon the theory that the defenders are grimly awaiting the inevitable extension of the Italian front, involving lengthening of the lines of communication from the base, before the invaders can launch an offensive.

Comments of Major Temperley the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent suggest that the ease of their offensive has aroused suspicions. if not misgivings, among the* Italians. He sums up the position as indicating that apart from the bloodless occupation of Adowa the Italian gains have been surprisingly small, and he emphasises that apart from sporadic demoralisation from, the Italian air raids the Abyssinian forces remain intact. A COUNTER-OFFENSIVE. LONDON, October 19. Addis Ababa reports state that the Emperor Selassie* has ordered the massing of 100.000 troops in the Dolo sector of the Ogaden area with the object of advancing into Italian Somaliland It is also announced that the Italians bombed and machinegunned Makale from aeroplanes, resulting in sixty casualties. This is Italy’s next objective on the* northern front, the Italian advance guards being within twenty miles of the town. THE GERMAN VIEW. BERLIN. October 19. German newspapers declare that world opinion which a week ago unanimously supported Britain is now changing. The Allegemeine Zeitung assorts that France is doing her best to turn the general feeling against Britain, her game consisting in giving Mussolini £he freest possible hand to prevent" the Rome agreement breaking down. It adds: “It is very clumsy of Britain to decide her elections at this juncture.” SLAVERY ABOLISHED. ASMARA. October 19. General de Bono has abolished slavery in the occupied areas of Abyssinia and declared the jiatives exempt from taxation. Official Italian figures of the killed in the battle of Adowa are: Abyssinians 400. Italians and Askaris 35 The population of A ska held an allday feast in celebration of the arrival of the Italians. Minor surrenders to the Italians continue. 1,200.000 MEN CALLED UP. ROME October 19. Italy has now 1.200.000 men under arms, of whom. 200.000 are in the colonies and Abyssinia. The 1915 class will short!v be called to the colour-. but the 1911. 1913 and 1914 classes w ill be retained indefinitelv. The men of the 1911-14 classes hitherto exempted from full-term service. have been recalled to the colours. and all their divisions are now on a war footing. NATIONS APPLY” EMBARGO. GENEVA. October 18. Fourteen nations have now applied the arms embargo to Italy. Russia Uruguay. Sweden. India, the Irish. Fret* State, and Lithuania have sigliified their adherence to-day. Russia and Latvia have agreed to the financial boycott. GERMAN COAL FOR ITALY. AMSTERDAM. October 19. Bargeloads of German coal sent down the Rhine are arriving daily at Rodderdam for shipment to Italy.