ABYSSINIAN CRISIS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13090, 25 October 1935, Page 6

ABYSSINIAN CRISIS.

LABOUR SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT.

IN BACKING UR BRITAIN

Electric Telegraph—Press Association GISBOhXE, This Day.

A statement that, the Labour Party was entirely in accord with the action oi the Government in supporting; the League or Nations in the Abyssinian crisis v.as made by Mr Walter Nash, President of the Party, in the course oi an address last evening. Though Labour in New Zealand had ditto red from the Government on many points he wishes to say that in this matter the Party was. completely and wholeheartedly with the Government. Me had had the privilege of seeing, confidential documents in the hands of Cabinet relating to the crisis. Mr Nash added, and he wished to say that he believed that every step taken by the Government had been, taken with a full sense of "its responsibility. Without thought oi ultimate war the Government had shown clearly that it was prepared to support tlie Covenant. Even if war should come the Labour Party hoped that Britain would continue its splendid lead to the o felle l count rie s. OPINION IN LONDON. (Deceived 10.3 d a.m.) United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON. October 24. There is at present an absence m London of any concrete fact to encourage the belief that steps for the settlement of the Italo-Abyssinian conflict are likely to mature before October 31st when the sanctions become applicable. The Admiralty, replying to an Associated Press inquiry regarding the withdrawal of two warships from the Mediterranean, said: “We know nothing about it.” The assumption is that Italy lias not clone sufficient in Libya to justify British' response. The Government has issued invitations to the powers signatory to the Washington-London Treaties to a naval conference on December 2nd. The Dominions are not included but the High Commissioners were informed is open to the Dominions to be represented if they desire.

1 XTKR NATION A L LABOUR. (Received 10 a.m.) GENEVA. October 24. The Canadian. Mr Riddell. was elected chairman of the International Labour office. A SENSATIONAL TURN. ITALIAN TROOPS WITHDRAWN (R ecu ive d 11 a.m.) LONDON, October 24. It -is confirmed that Suvic-h informed Sir Eric Drummond yesterday that Italy had ordered the withdrawal of i\ division of 20 000 Italian troops from Libya. They will probably go to Tripoli in view of the difficulties of bringing them back tc Italy. The Libyan forces are at present sixty to seventy thousand compared with fifteen thousand British troops in Egypt.

British Government circles welcome the move but emphasise that it wais taken entirely on Italian initiative and is in no way associated with bargaining and was not accompanied by a request for a reciprocal gesture on the part of Britain.

This clear statement from an authoritative quarter discounts the rumours on tin* Continent concerning the withdrawal of ships from the Med i to rra nean. “STRICTLY FRIYATE. -

It is understood that M. Laval's report to the Foreign Affairs Committee referred to the possibility of new negotiations at Geneva based on reconvening the Committee of Five on October 31st. It is believed that Italy is prepared to fully state her present case before the Committee but demands that negotiations should be strictly private-. She considers that elaboration of suitable compromises acceptable to Italy and Abyssinia impossible if the negotiations are subject to outside interference. ABYSS INTA XS PESSIMISTIC. ADDIS ABABA, October 24. The Government is pessimistic anti opinion is general that Biitain is lotting down Abyssinia which will be forced to fight unaided. NEXT BIG PUSH ROME, October 24. Italy expects the next big push co be launched on October 28th, the annivorsarv of the Fascist march on Re me.