“CONDEMNED TO DEATH”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18770, 29 July 1935, Page 7

“CONDEMNED TO DEATH”

ETHIOPIA’S ALLEGED FATE AN ITALIAN PRESS VIEW ARMS SUPPLY SCORNED (E)«c. T«l. Copyright—United Press Assii;) (Received July 29, 11 a.m.) ‘ROME, July 28. The newspaper, II Tevere, declares that Abyssinia is condemned .to death and that no foreign intervention can save her. It adds: “It is sad that civilised nations should try to supply her with munitions which are tantamount to pumping a little oxygen into a dying body. By the end of September Italy will have half a million, soldiers and sufficient munitions for two years of war in Abyssinia. Foreign obstruction will no more influence the efficiency of the Italian military machine than the closing of the Suez Canal.”

Italy has notified the League that her attendance at the Council meeting depends on whether Abyssinia replies favorably to the Italian request to continue the work of the Conciliation Commission. The Italian reply assumes that the Council’s only object will be to study methods, to enable the Commission to resume work, which is interpreted to mean that Italy will not attend if other matters are‘introduced.

A Geneva message states that the meeting of the League Council has been fixed for July 31. It is understood that. Italy will not attend the Council meeting if Abyssinia does not reply to the Note of July 24. If Abyssinia replies, whether favorably or unfavorably, Italy will attend, although if Abyssinia insists on re-opening the frontier question, Italy will ask the Council that negotiations be ended and there will be no further need for discussion.

The meeting of the Council of the League of Nations this week at which it is hoped important progress may be made towards a solution of the ItaloAbyssinian dispute has not caused any interruption of diplomatic exchanges between London, Paris and Rome 'in. which the British Government has been accorded co-operation with a view to facilitating a peacefulsettlement, states a London message. These efforts will be continued by Mr. Anthony Eden when he goes - to Geneva.

POLICY OF ROOSEVELT FRIENDLY RELATIONS NO DIPLOMATIC ADVANCE WASHINGTON, July 27,"" The President, Mr Franklin Roosevelt, in a press interview, again defined his policy regarding the ItaloEthpipian crisis. He said it was based on two points: (1) His good neighbor policy designed to maintain friendly relations with all nations; (2) the efforts of diplomatic agencies to keep the United States from becoming involved in specific cases not directiy concerning the United States. The President added that possible ■hostilities in Africa concerned the United States to the extent that it endangered the world peace for which the United States support of the Kellogg-Briand pact reiterated, but indicated that no actual diplomatic advance would be made if the controversy led to war.

STRIVING FOR PEACE ABYSSINIAN EFFORTS EMPEROR’S DECLARATION DJBIOUTI, July 27. The Emperor ,Selassie, in a statement, declared that Abyssinia from the beginning has striven for a peaceful, complete and impartial settlement of the dispute with Italy. He says that Italy admits the principle of arbitration, but renders its application doubly impossible by denying the arbitrators the right to interpret the treaty of 1908 regarding frontiers, and openly peparing for war and occupying Ethiopian territory. * It is the League Council’s duty to uphold the covenant and maintain the treaties of peace and also to say whether a member of the League has the right to attack a fellow member’s territory and menace its sovereignty and independence, also whether a member may resort to arms for political expansion and conquest. “We confidently await the decision,” said the Emperor. •

STRONG LEAGUE VIEWS AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDE LONDON, July 27. Australia has strong League views, and will know how to express them, said Mr A. G. Menzies, Federal Attor-ney-General, when entraining to join the Empress of Britain and Quebec, referring to the South Australian League of Nations Union’s complaint that the Federal Government had pronounced no policy regarding the Italo-Etthiopian dispute. Mr Menzies during the. past two days has been in close touch with the Foreign. Office in this connection. While in Washington he hopes to have a general discussion on foreign affairs with Mr Roosevelt, and also on the question of closer exchanges of views between the United States, and Australia. Discussing the Imperial Air Mail scheme, Mr Menzies said that several obstacles remained in tho agreement between England and Australia but he was confident these would be overcome and the scheme would operate by 1937. All' S. M. Bruce and members of Australia- House farewelled Mr Menzies who is delighted with the success of the first Privy Council case.