ITALY’S CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1935, Page 5

ITALY’S CHARGE

ABYSSINIAN RAIDING ATTACK UPON HERDSMEN ESCAPE WITH PRISONERS I TALK WITH THE EMPEROR DETERMINED TO RESIST By Telegraph—Pre.-- Assn—Copyright. Rec. 8 p.m. London, July 18. Allegations that Abyssinian parties crossed the Abyssinian-Eritrean frontier and attacked a small Italian outpost at Doi, are contained in an official communique issued at Rome. The attackers were repulsed, the message adds. Other raiding parties simultaneously penetrated the Mada Plain, killing and wounding unarmed herdsmen, womeh and children, and capturing 4000 head of cattle. The raiders took as slaves several prisoners of both sexes. An Italian detachment sent from Assab .to punish the raiders arrived too late and halted, at the Abyssinian frontier in accordance with orders. An Aden message says that 49 Italian families arrived at Aden aboard a coastal steamer from Djibouti. They were transhipped to an Italian steamer for Italy. An Italian warship is standing by for further evacuations. Intense heat is reported from Eritrea, where from 10 to 12 Italian soldiers are said to be dying daily. A large number Of sick troops traversed Aden on July 16 en route for Italy. The Paris correspondent of the London Times says the French Government’s efforts are now directed towards persuading Signor Mussolini to state his case at Geneva, and it is admitted he has ■a case. It is being put to him that if Italy, refused it would be a deadly blow to the League of Nations which might have serious effects on the whole European situation. It also held that if Italy has faith in the justice of her cause it is only reasonable to suppose she will use the League’s machinery to help her solve the crisis. The Emperor of Abyssinia in an exclusive interview with the Addis Ababa correspondent of the Times, said he desired discussion of the Italo-Abyssinian controversy by July 25, before which he would not take diplomatic steps but would nevertheless reply to any direct suggestions from Britain. VALUE OF 1906 TREATY. He acknowledged the value of the 1906 Treaty as an instrument of pacification, but said Britain was the only co-signa-tory which hid now mentioned its application, ajid in face of Signor Mussolini’s actions it seemed valueless. » The Emperor was delighted with the attitude of Sir Samuel Hoare, Foreign Secretary, and Mr. R. A. Eden, Minister of League Affairs, and was not averse to a free hand for Britain in a constructive peace effort. The Emperor said that if Italy’s argument for the conquest of Abyssinia was civilisation, slavery was not limited to Abyssinia, but flourished in Tripoli and Eritrea, which the Italians could not deny. The treaty of 1931 allowed Abyssinia to import arms to maintain her independence, but she could not remain independent if Italy was allowed to send munitions while licenses for export, to Abyssinia were withheld. If Italy declared war or her troops dared to cross the frontiers Ethiopia would fight, simultaneously appealing to the League. Questioned in the House of Commons regarding the request of the Abyssinian Government for the appointment by the League of Nations of neutral observers to be sent to the frontiers between the Italian colonies and Abyssinia, and the attitude of the British Government, Sir Samuel Hoare said the request had been communicated by the Secretary-General of the League, M. Joseph Avenol, to the Government and other members of the Executive Council, who no doubt would be called upon to consider it at the Council’s next meeting. “It would not be proper for me to disclose beforehand the attitude which the British representative will take up, or to attempt to prejudice the decision which, after taking into consideration all the information before it, the Council may see fit to take,” he said.

M. Avenol has advised from Geneva that the League Council will meet between July 25 and August 2 to discuss the Abyssinian dispute.