PEACE EFFORTS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1935, Page 5

PEACE EFFORTS

TRI-PARTY DISCUSSION BRITAIN, FRANCE, ITALY CONFERENCE SUGGESTION PROBLEM OF ABYSSINIA ATTITUDE OF MUSSOLINI By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7 p.m. London, July 13. Forecasting a new effort to avert an Italo-Abyssinian war, the Observer’s diplomatic correspondent expresses a belief that the French and Italian Ambassadors at London, M. Charles Corbin and Signor Dino Grandi, will shortly confer with Sir Samuel Hoare, Foreign Secretary, following up Sir Samuel’s suggestion in his foreign policy statement to the House of Commons that a solution could be found through the machinery of the 1906 treaty combined with the League of Nations. On the contrary it is reported from Rome that Signor Mussolini is desirous of negotiating a protectorate over Abyssinia without disturbing the Abyssinian dynasty, which it is stated Abyssinia will never accept. Consequently Signor Mussolini, although he prefers to gain his ends without a war, will aim at full sovereignty by conquest if a peaceful outcome does not eventuate. He plans to open hostilities in October and he is prepared to face the consequences. The newspapers emphasise the intensification of Italian efforts to organise the expeditionary forces. The Observer’s Cairo correspondent says that already 200,000 Italians, including artisans and labourers, are in East Africa, in addition to an unknown number of native levies.

The Sunday Times’ correspondent at Aden points out that the numerous difficulties that will result from the intense heat of 122 degrees in the shade in Abyssinia. 'Only the strongest will be able to stand the strain.

An explorer who has returned from Abyssinia reports extensive gun-running to Abyssinia from the Red Sea ports. The Abyssinians, he says, will pay any prices for arms and ammunition. The Manchester Guardian says there is not a single definite statement in the Foreign Secretary’s House of Commons statement of what the Government intends to do regarding Abyssinia. “The League Commission,” the paper says, “should inquire into the whole business and prove to Italy that she cannot buy land for expanding her population at the price of all that the world gained in knowledge and experience in the Great War.” $ IMMEDIATE STATEMENT MUSSOLINI’S LAST TERMS BASIS FOR SETTLEMENT Rec. 6.30 p.m. Rome, July 13. Signor Mussolini is reported to be contemplating an immediate statement of the terms on which a pacific settlement may be reached with Abyssinia. It is generally expected it will include a demand for political control of the country on the grounds that Italian rights have been violated and that Abyssinia has not fulfilled her League obligations. Though her passports were in order, Abyssinian soldiers halted for two days Signora di Dauro, wife of the Italian Consul at Gondar, who was making a caravan journey to Eritrea. Their action nessitated her husband’s intervention. The Abyssinian authorities arrested 25 persons who sold food to the Italian Consul at Adowa, dismissed a clerk for speaking to the Consul, and arrested employees of the Italian Legation at Addis Ababa. The Italian Government has issued a communique complaining that Abyssinians beat one of two cowherds who inadvertently crossed the border, and confiscated ten of their oxen. KELLOGG-BRIAND PACT UNITED STATES’ SUPPORT CORNERSTONE OF POLICY Rec. 6.30 p.m. New York, July 12. After his conversation with Signor Augusta Rosso, Italian Ambassador, yesterday, Mr. Cordell Hull, Secretary of State, took the occasion to reaffirm the United States’ support of the KelloggBriand Pact in such a way as to leave no doubt that the United States regards the pact as the cornerstone of the Administration’s foreign policy. Although the statement was not addressed to Signor Mussolini, it is considered tantamount to calling the provisions of the pact to Italy’s attention in connection with the current crisis in Abyssinia. “The pact is no less binding now than when it was entered into by • the 63 nations which are parties to it,” Mr. Hull said as he was leaving for a fortnight’s holiday to start to-morrow. It is assumed the Administration will go no further than to state its declaration of principles, and that it will not formally invoke the pact or otherwise intervene in the Italo-Abyssinian situation.