COMMON ACTION

Southland Times, Issue 22730, 5 November 1935, Page 7

COMMON ACTION

LEAGUE MEMBERS SANCTIONS AGAINST ITALY HISTORIC OCCASION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, November 3. Sir Samuel Hoare, broadcasting from Geneva, said: “To-day is very important in the history of the League. It is unpleasant to break off economic relations with an old friend. It is also most difficult to cut the complicated strand of international trade. Accordingly, many doubted whether collective support was possible, and to-day has satisfactorily answered those doubts, fifty out of fifty-six countries promising support, subject to minor adjustments. This great achievement was not due to Franco-British pressure, but to a common effort. Moreover, the League has blessed the Franco-British efforts towards peace. Everyone has aimed at a settlement which will be honourable for the three parties in the controversy, namely, the League, Italy and Abyssinia. It was in that spirit that I hopefully conversed with M. Laval, Baron Aloisi and other prominent people. Whether and when the League’s efforts will succeed I cannot say. The task of reconciliation is extraordinarily difficult, but the day’s work has encouraged us to redouble our efforts.” The Geneva correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says: “I understand, that Japan will not participate in sanctions. Her sympathies lie with Abyssinia and she has no special love for Italy. It is stated that Japan feels that a League victory in the present issue would be interpreted as a defeat for the principle of colonial expansion.” BRITAIN AND FRANCE SEARCH FOR SETTLEMENT. NO SINISTER DISCUSSIONS. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 2. Both the French Prime Minister and the British Foreign Secretary referred in their speeches at the meeting of the Co-ordination Committee to the search for a settlement of the Italo-Ethiopian war. M. Laval, having recalled that France had on many occasions proclaimed before the League that it would remain loyal to the Covenant, said: “We must search as speedily as possible for a friendly settlement of the conflict.” Sir Samuel Hoare said it was with great regret that they had been forced to take the decision to apply sanctions, but for those determined to uphold the principles of the Covenant, no other course was possible. “On the one hand, as loyal members of the League, we feel it our bounden duty to undertake the duty imposed upon us by the Covenant, while, on the other hand, we are under a no less insistent obligation to strive for a speedy and honourable settlement of the controversy,” he said. “It is common talk that during the last few days there have been conversations between Rome, Paris and London on the possibility of such a settlement. There is nothing mysterious or sinister about these discussions. It is the duty of all of us to explore the road of peace. This is what we have been doing and shall continue to do. Nothing is further from our minds than to make an agreement which is not acceptable to the League, Abyssinia and Italy. It is essential to act in the spirit of impartial justice.” In a speech, broadcast to British listeners, before he left Geneva last night, Sir Samuel Hoare said that it was a great achievement that fifty League States had promised support to the League action, and he congratulated them. The result had been due neither to British pressure nor to FrancoBritish pressure, but to the common effort of many States, great and small, representing many different interests. “Secondly, the League has given its blessing to the efforts we and the French Government are making for peace,” he said. “Speech after speech, was made this afternoon wishing these efforts every success. There is no question of our going behind the back of the Council. ITALIAN HATRED COUNT CIANO’S BROADCAST. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Asmara, November 3. Count Ciano, Signor Mussolini’s son-in-law, in an extraordinary broadcast addressed to America, declared: “Our troops will advance and the Italian people hourly will be brought closer together- and will rally to the sacred person of the Duce. Sanctions which the League voted in madness will be borne with determination and heroism unparalleled in the history of mankind. Those responsible for sanctions will no longer be able to enjoy the citizenship of a civilized world, and the eternal hatred of Italy will be directed against them. Our hatred is unforgiving. History has shown that Italy can give precious friendship, but fatal enmity.” ITALIAN PROTEST EGYPT ADOPTS SANCTIONS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.35 p.m.) Cairo, November 4. The Italian Minister has formally protested against Egypt’s decision to adopt sanctiems.