GREECE AND ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1923, Page 8

GREECE AND ITALY.

THE LEAGUE MEETS. ITALY OPPOSED TO ACTION. THE QUESTION ADJOURNED, By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Geneva, Sept. 5. The greatest interest is taken in the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations to-day. The hall was crowded. Signor Salandra opened the proceedings by reading a letter drawing attention to the bombardment of Corfu and throwing aspersions on the conduct of the Corfu authorities, following with a lengthy statement contending that, as the murdered members of the mission were appointed by the Ambassadors’ Conference, it was for the conference, not the League of Nations, to decide the issue. He asserted that Greece had appealed to the League i n order to escape responsibility for the barbarous act and affirmed that the Italian Government had no intention of recognising the authority of the League to intervene. It was the Italian Government’s irrevocable opinion that the council of the League should not proceed with the affair. Count Ishii proposed an adjournment until to-morrow. Lord .Robert Cecil agreed, but asked that articles 10, 12 and 15 of the covenant be read in French and English. When this had been done Lord Robert Cecil remarked that these articles not merely contained the Treaty of Versailles, but the Treaties of Neuilly, St. Germain and the Trianon. If they were not taken into consideration then the bases of these treaties would be shattered. The Greek Cabinet agreed that the council of the League of Nations should nominate neutrals ’to participate in the tribunal inquiring into the murder of the Italians and the indemnity to be paid to the families would be fixed by a commission composed of Italians, Greeks and a neutral magistrate. Greece meanwhile is depositing fifty million lire in a Swiss bank. AMBASSADORS’ CONFERENCE. REPORTS ON GREEK OFFER. Paris, Sept. 5. Trie Conference of Ambassadors took a formal note of Greece’s readiness to pay the reparation determined by the conference, and her proposal for a commission of inquiry by the three Powers which were represented on the Delimitation Commission. The conference recognised that the responsibility of States for political crimes in the territory is a principle of international law and will immediately consider details of the proposed inquiry. This decision has been communicated to the League of Nations. ANGLO-ITALIAN FRIENDSHIP. DANGER OF IT COOLING. Received Sept. 6, 7.40 p.m. London, Sept. 6. The Morning Post, in an editorial, says that possibly formula may be found whereby the League of Nations may hand over to the Ambassadors’ Conference its mandate for finding an equitable solution of the present grave issue, but Britain, in her efforts to limit the dispute, has been badly served by sections of the British press to which Signor Mussolini referred. The paper adds: “Chauvinism of Mr. Lloyd George and the Labor press of Britain are a danger to the peace of Europe, which is noisier than the sabre-rattling of the Hohenzollerns in their palmiest days The danger of the present crisis does not lie in scattering the League of Nations, but in the possible cooling and ending of AngloItalian friendship, which is not only a precious legacy, but a present necessity alike for Italy and England.” BRITISH ACTION. NAVAL VESSELS UNDER ORDERS. London, Sept. 4. Lord Curzon conveyed to the Japanese Embassy Britain’s profound sympathy and promised every relief possible. The Admiralty has ordered the cruiser Dispatch to proceed from Shanghai to Yokohama. It has also placed the light cruiser squadron at Weiheiwei at Japan’s disposal. MUSSOLINI OBSTINATE. READY TO LEAVE LEAGUE. Rome, Sept. 4. Signor Mussolini informed the Italian Cabinet that it is inadmissable for the League of Nations to interfere. If it insists, Italy will withdraw from the League. Cabinet approved. Signor Mussolini, addressing the Cabinet, declared the situation at Corfu was perfectly normal, and the Italian garrison was sufficient to meet all emergencies. European public opinion was beginning to modify its attitude and comments approving the Italian action were increasing. Doubtless Italian public opinion was surprised and grieved at the attitude of such a large section of the British press. He hoped this burning lesson of political realism, coming from across the Channel, would decisively cure Italy of the malady of conventional phrases. SYMPATHY FROM NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 5. A message has been despatched by the Governor-General asking the King to' convey to the Japanese Government profound sympathy of the people of New Zealand with the people of Japan in the calamity that has befallen them.