TEMPORARY LULL.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13089, 24 October 1935, Page 5

TEMPORARY LULL.

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE EXPLAINED. ITALY AND FRANCE PLEASED. United Press Assn.—l3v Electric Telegraph—(Jopvrmhi. LONDON .October 23. Report? from Addis Ababa and also from both Italian headquarters state that ail is quiet on the northern and southern fighting fronts. VILLAGE CAPTURED. ASMARA, October 22. All is quiet on the northern front, but in the south the renegade Sultan, Olal Dinle, has occupied for the Italians the fortified village of Geledi, north-west of Dagnarei, on the Webbe Shibeli river. The hundred defenders resisted stubbornly until surrounded. Twenty were killed or wounded, and the remainer escaped in the scrub. TH E BITER "BITTEN. ADDIS ABABA, October 22. A runner from the south brings a tale that the Italians were hoisted with their own petard. After mining.. their camp they evacuated it, hoping to entrap an advancing Abyssinian raiding party, but in departing a private tripped over the detonating appliance, exploding all the mines ancl annihilating the garrison. After this the Abyssinian s captured 200 bombs and two tents, also 15 police whistles, from which it is implied that there were 15 victims of the* explosion. WELLS SALTED. LONDON, October 22. The Times*' Addis Ababa correspondent says the Italians are reported to be retiring to Assab from Mount Moussa Ali, where Danakil tribesmen salted the wells. 120,000 NATIVES SURREXDER . LONDON, October 23. The Times’ Rome correspondent says it is estimated that 120,000 natives have already made submission to the Italian forces in Hie northern occupied regions. Each slave freed is to receive a certificate in the name of the King of Italy testifying to his new status. MORE HOPE OF PEACE. LONDON, October 23. The Daily Mail’s Paris correspondent says Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech has pleased French official circles, especially the definite indication that military sanctions are out of the question, to which the greatest importance is attached. The Echo de Paris says: “We now know Britain will oniv act collectively, but what will happen if economic sanctions prove ineffective and no accord is concluded?'” At Rome the speech evoked favourable comment in political and diplomatic circles, especially the statement that there would be no military sanctions which they declare will do more than anything else to dispel the war clouds beginning to gather over Europe. The Italians are also greatly impressed by Sir Samuel Hoare’s direct appeal to Mussolini, seeing in it a confirmation that Anglo-Italian negotiations ar * going on at the time. Home also says tentative Abyssinian peace conversations are admittedly progressing in London. Paris and Home, but it is emphasised that it is difficult} to reconcile the* Italian readiness to re-open discussions on the basis of tlie tripartite treaty or 1906 and tlie* Anglo-Italian agreement of 1925, with tho British insistence* that any settlement must be negotiated within the* League's framework.

The difficulty is not apparently regarded as insuperable, and a formula. it is suggested. might be found whereby such discussions might be conducted with tin* consent oi Geneva on the definite undersiai.cling that tlie results of the discussi jus should conic* before the league for approval.

Quarters closely in touch with the Vatican declare that the Pope is quietly ancl firmly exercising its influence in favour of a settlement by compromise. COLLECTIVE PEACE. LONDON, October 22. Archbishop of Canterbury, making a statement subsequent to the conference representing the Church of England. Evangelical Free C hurches, Salvation Army and Scottish Churches. thus summarises its views : “We believe* the principle of collective responsibility for world peace, based on the League* covenant. is a practical application of Christianity, which members ot the League must uphold. Wc therefore* wholeheartedly support the League's attitude regarding the* Abyssinian war and urge the* League to arrange international conference's on a more equitable distribution of the world's resources, and the* removal of barriers and collective reduction of armaments to the lowest point compatible with security. We are convinced that spiritual power is the only one which in the last resort can maintain world peace.” TURN (JIN'S ON MUSSOLINI! LONDON. October 22. Mr McGovern, in tlie Commons debate, said it would be* more intelligent for Italian workers to use machine-guns against Mussolini ancl the Italian ruling class than against the poar natives in Africa. \ Labour member, Mr Grenfell, condemned i he for doing too little and asked bow long Egypt would stav British ii Mussolini got a foothold on the Arabian peninsula where oil could be exploited. Tho debate was adjourned.