PEACE EFFORTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18890, 16 December 1935, Page 13

PEACE EFFORTS

ETHIOPIAN. WAR APPEALS TO DISPUTANTS ANGLO-FRENCH MOVES OUTLINE OF LETTERS WHITE PAPER ISSUED (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2.30 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 14. Newspapers report continued evidence, in letters received by members ol l’avliaiiient. of'concern throughout- Hie country at the recent proposals for a basis ot settlement of the Italo-Ahyssinian conflict . Two motions; m varying terms, hut in general support of an early restoration of peace in Abyssinia, have been tabled in the House of Commons by about 48 right wing Conservatives. Mi-. Anthony Eden is on his way back in London.

The .Abyssinian note to the League of Nations on the Paris proposals declared its conviction that the problem nf pacific settlement and putting an end to Italian aggression does not concern Ethiopia alone. "It olten has been repeated, apart from the war of aggression undertaken by Italy against Ethiopia, that there is conflict between Italy, which is declared to have broken tlic covenant, and the League of Nations, which is the sovereign guarantor of the system of collective, security provided, for by the Governments lor the benefit of all members of the League, without distinction of .strength, color or i ace.” says the. Abyssinian note. “In the present circumstances, it is the Ethiopian Government’s imperative duty to do nothing which can contribute towards creating a precedent prejudieal to any States members of the League of Nations. Each of these States would he entitled to reproach the. Ethiopian Government with having deprived it of the means of discussing publicly before Hie, Assembly a problem which is vital to the future of the League of Nations and to the security of each of the States members. Abyssinia, therefore, asks for a meeting of the Assembly.

MINISTERS INSTRUCTED A White Paper issued by the Government contains, in addition to the text of the proposals drafted ill Paris, instructions sent hy the Foreign Secretary to the British Ambassador in Rome and the British Minister in Addis Ababa on December 10. These, are preceded hy a report of (he League Committee of Five of September 18 last and the respective replies thereto of the Italian and Ethiopian representatives, and by telegram from Sir Samuel Hoare at Geneva describing the session of the Co-ordina-tion Committee on November 2, at which the efforts of the French and British Governments to promote a settlement of die conflict were welcomed.

In telegrams of December 10, the British representatives were instructed to make, jointly with their French colleagues, a communication to Signor Mussolini and the Emperor of Abyssinia which, in each case, begins by staling that before the meeting of the Committee of Eighteen arranged for December 12, the British and French Governments, acting in accordance with the wishes expressed! in the Co-ordination Committee on November 2 and anxious to see. an early end put to the ItaloAhyssiniaii conflict-, have endeavored to draw up a basis of agremeni. in the telegram to Rome, the Governments give an assurance of their anxiety to take account of Italian aspirations in so far as these can he made compatible with the principles of the Covenant of the League of Nations and respect for Ethiopian sovereignty. In both communications they state that they are convinced that the arrangement to he come, to should he drawn up under the direction of the Committee of Five which received from the Council of the League of Nations in September last its mandate of conciliation, and they have decided to make certain suggestions urgently to that committee and add that, in order to make sure that Signor Mussolini and the Emperor would accept the basis of negotiations in principle, without prejudice to the, result of the discussions which would subsequently take place before the committee, they are communicating the proposals to them in strict confidence. URGENT APPEALS

Convinced that Signor Mussolini and the Emperor will appreciate the friendly spirit which inspired their communication, the Governments address, to each of them ail urgent, appeal that lie would, without delay, take part, in negotiations for improving the international situation with most favorable prospects. To Rome they joined lo this appeal a statement that they hope the reply of the Italian Government- may reach them within a period which, in view of the imminence of meetings at Geneva, may be as short as possible. If. as they hope, this reply in principle is favorable, the French and United Kingdom Governments will immediately take tin; necessary steps in order that the Committee of Five mightlie called together on December 12. In ibal case the meeting of the committee might modify the object of the. meeting of the Committee of Eighteen iixed for the same day. ►Sir Samuel Hoare and M. Laval, it is pointed out-, attach the greatest importance to learning at the same time frbm Signor Mussolini whether lie is ready to arrange for collaboration of tinItalian Government with the Committee, of Five.

LEAGUE CG.LLABGRATION The appeal to the Emperor wap reinforced by the hope that His Majesty would Jet France and Britain know, as soon, as possible, if ho agreed to negotiate on these conditions and was ready to arrange for the collaboration of tinEthiopian Government- with the Committee of Five. Both telegrams concluded with a reference to the proposal that Abyssinia should have an outlet to the sea, and tin; representatives were advised that if the, solution suggested of tlm cession by Italy of Assab and a corridor thereto would, in their view, militate against Unacceptance of the basis that they might say that failing such an arrangement the Government of the United Kingdom and the French Government were prepared to facilitate Ethiopia’s access to the sea in the maimer which they staled to the Committee of Five.

The Foreign Secretary sent, an additional telegram to Sir Sydney Barton in which tlm latter was instructed to use his utmost influence to induce the Emperor lo give- careful and favorable consideration to the proposals and on no account lightly to reject them. The message, adds: “I feel sure that lie will give further proof of his statesmanship by realising the advantage of the opportunity of negotiation which they afford.”