OIL EMBARGO

Southland Times, Issue 22770, 21 December 1935, Page 7

OIL EMBARGO

ACTION DEFERRED DECISION OF LEAGUE COMMITTEE PEACE PLAN SHELVED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Geneva, December 19. The League Council met privately. It is understood that Britain recommended the continuance of the Committee of Eighteen. M. Laval is fighting a rearguard action, doing his utmost to avoid even consideration of an oil embargo and seeking to revive the Paris proposals, suggesting that they are still the basis for discussion and that the question should be shelved pending Italo-Abys-sinian acceptance or rejection. The shelving motion adopted by the Council contains the phrase: “In view of the preliminary character of the suggestion communicated to the Governments the Council does not consider it advisable to make any further decision at present.” A later report states that the Committee of Eighteen indefinitely postponed an oil embargo against Italy, but urged the continuance of the existing sanctions. The Committee of Thirteen decided to submit a resolution to the Council noting that steps to promote conciliation had proved unavailing, and proposing that the committee should meet in the event of a further development. It is understood that the majority of the committee, including Russia, said they never would approve the Paris formulas. PEACE PLAN REJECTED ABYSSINIA'S DECISION. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Addis Ababa, December 19. The Government has notified the British and French Ministers that it refuses the peace plan as destructive to the League’s very basis. Ethiopia has resolved to defend her land and her liberty, convinced that neither the Council nor' the Assembly would support such a settlement. ONUS ON LEAGUE ABYSSINIA’S REPLY. (United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright.) Addis Ababa, December 19. The Abyssinian reply to the Paris proposals places the onus for judgment thereon upon the League. It repeats the allegations that Italy is unjustly waging an unjust war, and states the conviction that the League will not support a project entailing something worse than a mandate. It declares Abyssinia’s intention of defending herself to the end rather than submitting to a partition for Italy’s profit. Abyssinia confidently relies on the League to ensure respect for its legitimate rights and the exercise of every measure in the Covenant to prevent the. aggressor continuing a deliberate war.

FINAL DISPOSAL BY LEAGUE. VALUELESS IN PRESENT FORM. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, December 19. The special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press at Geneva says the formula publicly adopted by the Committee of Thirteen (namely, the Council without the parties to the dispute) finally disposed of the Paris peace plan as far as the League of Nations is concerned. British quarters afterwards admitted that there were no prospects of its revival in its present form. It is understood that Russia and Denmark were the most vigorous opponents of the plan, but all agreed that in its present form it was valueless. The session ended suddenly with a brief meeting of the Committee oi Eighteen taking note of the Council’s decision. The Australian Associated Press has been authoritatively assured that the guarded character of the Committee of Eighieen’s communique does not imply that it is abandoning consideration of an oil embargo, but it desired to provide breathing space for the world to assimilate the events of the past fortnight. The present intention of the Committee of Eighteen is to reconsider oil sanctions early in the New Year, but an earlier meeting will be held if the Council sees an opportunity to initiate fresh peace proposals. PLAN NOT SUPPORTED NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE OF NATIONS UNION. (Per United Press Association.) Tiniaru, December 20. The following resolution has been sent to the Government by the Dominion Council of the League of Nations Union of New Zealand: “Dominion Council of the League of Nations Union of New Zealand respectfully urges upon the Government that in the interests of world peace and collective security, it should immediately intimate to the British Government that it cannot support the Franco-British peace plan for settlement of the Italo-Ethi-opian dispute, as in its opinion the proposed terms violate the spirit and letter of the Covenant of the League of Nations upon which the hopes of the world for enduring peace and security are based.” DIFFICULT POSITION FRENCH PRIME MINISTER. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Paris, December 19. It is becoming increasingly certain that M. Laval is doomed, even his political friends advising him to resign before December 27. The franc, one of the most reliable barometers, fell sharply. M. Laval publicly denies that he contemplates resigning and adds that nothing is further from his thoughts. He will defend his policy to the end before the Chamber. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail says that M. Laval’s position seems hopeless now that the League has rejected the plan. The first results of the present crisis will probably be a fatal flight of gold from France. The Bourse has already reacted sharply with rentes depreciating and selling orders placed in all departments of the money market. AFRICAN CAMPAIGN ITALY’S EXPENDITURE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 12.50 a.m.) Rome, December 20. An official decree announces an additional appropriation totalling £17,000,000 for the East African expenses.