SEEKING EXCUSE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1935, Page 5

SEEKING EXCUSE

PLAN OF VILIFICATION ITALY’S ABYSSINIAN AIM CREATION OF DISSENSION CONQUEST CONSEQUENCE EMPEROR’S DECLARATION By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7.20 p.m. London, July 21. “Italy is seeking a pretext to initiate a campaign of vilification with a view to eventual conquest,” declared the Emperor of Abyssinia, Haili Sellassie, in the course of a special statement at Addis Ababa. “Thus far Italy has found nothing better than a drunken brawl between native employees of a commercial agency and the local police, which was misrepresented as a grave international incident. “Recognising that her military preparations are unjustifiable morally and judicially, Italy seeks to justify her refusal to execute international engagements by denouncing us as savages and by resorting herself to the most savsgc methods of all. She is also seeking to create dissension between our races and religions, which have never been more united. “We categorically armounce that we will not accept a solution involving an Italian any other protectorate or mandate. The issue is between a small nation, the attitude of which is pacific but which is resolved to defend the territorial integrity and political independence which the members of the League of Nations have undertaken to safeguard, and a great nation avowing a preference for glorious war and cynically urging the necessity for expansion.” The Emperor protests against the arbitrary application of the arms embargo with the result that it helps the stronger nation, which is counter to all concepts of modern civilisation. He adds that he confidently awaits the League’s decisions. “BETTER TO DIE FREE.” "He who does for his country is a happy man,” declared' 1 the Emperor in an appeal after a review of his troops to young and old, men and women, to unite against the invader. “It is better to die free than live as slaves. Mussolini has declared that Italy is on a civilising mission; he wants to exclude a peaceful solution and he wants a bloody settlement of the old Adowa affair.” The Secretary-General of the League, M. Joseph Avenol, has now concluded his visit to Paris, where discussion with the French Ministers took place. M. Avenol will return to Paris on Monday, when it is assumed that he will be informed of the latest results of the diplomatic consultations. Newspapers state that the arguments addressed by the League to Rome are urging the desirability of efforts being made by Signor Mussolini to use the League df Nations machinery for putting forward Italy’s case against Abyssinia, which has not yet been officially formulated in public. The Japanese Foreign Minister, Mr. K. Hirota, has announced that Japan is specially interested in Abyssinia economically and could not remain unconcerned in the possibility of war between Abyssinia and Italy. Statements that Japan had assured Signor Mussolini she would not interfere in Abyssinia are officially denied. BRITAIN’S ACTIVITY. The British Government continues to be actively engaged through diplomatic exchanges at Rome and Paris in efforts to discover means for a direct peaceful settlement of the dispute. These efforts will certainly be continued until success is achieved or until the matter comes before the League Council. In the latter event it is hoped that Italy, as well as Abyssinia, will be prepared to submit a full and frank statement, in order that the Council shall be fully informed upon all the facts in the case. Members of the Council has been asked to hold themselves in readiness to attend the meeting, which may be summoned about the end of the month. Signor Mussolini is incensed at Haili Sellassie’s speech made on July 18, in which he warned Italy she would find Abyssinia united in the defence of her territory, Signor Mussolini considers it is warlike and he has instructed the Italian Minister at Addis Ababa to make a strong protest. It is semi-officially announced- that the Azione Colonial© (Colonial Office) admits there have been 70 deaths from sunstroke among the Italian forces in East Africa.

The Times’ Rome correspondent says that General Grazioli, reporting to Signor Mussolini on the militarisation of Italy, announced that 40,000 instructors were training 500,000 youths, every commune providing special grounds for exercising. A million sandbags have been dispatched from Cairo to Addis Ababa to protect the British legation in the event of war, which Egypt believes is inevitable, says a Cairo message.