ATTACK ON ABYSSINIA

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1935, Page 5

ATTACK ON ABYSSINIA

DENOUNCEMENT BEFORE LEAGUE ITALY’S CASE FORCIBLY SUBMITTED WORLD AWAITING THE DECISION By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Geneva, September 4. FULFILLING its determination to become plaintiff instead of defendant, Italy presented through Baron Aloisi one of the fiercest peacetime denunciations of another country ever heard when the Abyssinian dispute was considered by the League o Nations Council to-day. . Baron Aloisi, ignoring appeals in the earlier speeches Mr. Eden and M. Laval, abandoned himself to surprising bitterness, states the Australian Associated Press correspondent, he did everything except make a specific proposal to expe Abyssinia from the League. He did not even spare the personal capacity of the Ethiopian delegate, taunting Abyssinia because she had sought European assistance at Geneva. The meek little Ethiopian representative, Mr. Tekea Hawariat, sat immobile throughout what is regarded as the most vitriolic speech in the League’s history, except when Baron Aloisi referred to his personal incompetence Then he conferred in whispers with Professor Jeze, the French adviser Abyssinia, who. was too dumbfounded to attempt to complete a WP thus gained a strategic advantage through launching an attack before the nominal plaintiff was given the opportunity of stating its case. . . v Baron Aloisi was equally bitter when he received representatives after, the Council meeting. He declared that Italy did not recognise Abyssinia as an equal, and declined to carry on negotiations, even discussions, with Ethiopia, which was outside the law as far as Italy was concerned However, she was prepared to continue negotiations with the League, which Italy did not intend to leave. • .“Italy,” he’ said, “will also continue negotiations with the other Powers. Mr. Eden’s and M. Laval’s proposals are unsatisfactory, as we demand political in addition to economic concessions. Nevertheless at no time has there been any question of an Anglo-Italian conflict.” Answering a question whether Italy demanded the expulsion of Abyssinia from the League, Baron Aloisi replied: “Italy has stated her case, and the League must decide.”

AN APPEAL TO REASON

FRANCO-BRITISH PLEAS BARON ALOIS! VITRIOLIC EXPULSION NOT ASKED British Wireless. . Rugby, Sept. 4. The president of the League Council, Don Ruiz Guinazu (Argentina) opened the meeting with the announcement that the Arbitration Commission had submitted a unanimous report to the Italian and Ethiopian Governments on the Waiwal incident. The report would be com’ municated to the Council, Mr. Eden then gave an account of the tripartite conference at Paris, He explained that the proposals at Paris included acceptance by the Ethiopian Government of collective assistance jn economic development and administrative reorganisation of Abyssinia. Provision was made that the free activities of foreigners should be respected. While the suggestions maintained the full independence and integrity of Ethiopia, it is understood that the possibility of a territorial adjustment by agreement was not excluded. These proposals were rejected by the Italian Government, “I wish now to bring to the Council an assurance that' the British Government will do everything ip its power to assure g peaceful settlement of this dispute,” continued Mr. Eden- '“ln these post-war years nations have striven laboriously, sincerely and with a measure of success to create a new international era which shall spare mankind the scourge of war, because they have learned at long last the bitter lesson that war is the constant enemy of progress. That is why they pledged themselves in a pact of peace to denounce war as an instrument of national policy. “It was for these same reasons that members of the League had previously expressed determination and gave form to their conviction in the articles of the covenant. The machinery of the new order is here at Geneva. If this spirit is here also we cannot fail.” NO ITALO-BRITISH DISPUTE. Mi-. Eden emphasised that there was no question in this dispute of any political or ’ economic conflict between the United Kingdom and Italy. Britain was concerned in the dispute as a member of the League. “World opinion is watching us, he concluded. “In the judgment of the world the League faces a vital test. Let us set the machinery of the League to work, and if we . obtain the loyal cooperation, of the two parties to the dis--.ptfte'we shall not fajl to achieve a peaceful settlement which we all so earnestly desipe.” M. Laval said he was sure that every member of the League would fulfil its duty and neglect nothing to achieve a peaceful solution of the conflict, for all of them had a firm will to serve peace. Baron Aloisi, submitting voluminous documentary evidence on the ItaloEthiopian relations for the past 50 years, said it had in these relations always shown the greatest patience and firmness. Ethiopia, he declared, was making use of the League in order to avoid fulfilling her treaty obligations to Italy, The Italian Government was no longer able to have any confidence in the Ethiopian Government and must reserve its liberty of action to adopt all measures necessary for the safety of its colonies. These charges against Abyssinia's good faith were warmly .repudiated by the Ethiopian representative, who re-affirmed that the Ethiopian Government placed its faith in the League. After a short speech by the Spanish member, who vigorously upheld the principles of the Covenant, the Council adjourned. HORRIFYING DETAILS. The volumes detailing the Italian case circulated to the League Council include unpublishable, horrifying photographs of Abyssinian conditions, including the mutilation of criminals and the mal-

treatment of slaves. They accuse Abyssinia of open and systematic violation of pledges and treaties as though according to a well-fixed programme. Italy declares that Abyssinia violated the immunity of Italian diplomatic and consular representatives, endangered the lives and property of Italian subjects, impeded Italian trade, was an immediate permanent danger to Italy’s colonies and did not possess qualities to make a vpL untary effort to raise herself to the level of civilised nations. . “Italy in rebelling against such a situation declares that she is not only defending her own prestige and dignity, but also the good name of the League, said Baron Aloisi. “The central Government does not control the border regions, some of which are depopulated as a result of Abyssinian barbarity. “The memorandum refers to the.Lugard report on Abyssinian slavery, which was not fully published owing to the horrors described- Yet the Emperor’s Government not only recognises slavery but directly participates therein. Italy also instances barbarous morals incompatible with membership of the League. “As an instance of Italian good faith Italy supplied Abyssinia with arms and munitions, and the Emperor is now threatening to use Italian arms against Italy, The Italian-Abyssinian Treaty friendship of 1928, proof of Italy’s goodwill, unfortunately has been nullified owing to Abyssinia’s refusal to respect the undertaking.” The council is unlikely to hold another public m eet ing before September 6. Mr. Eden will see the Dominion delegates on September 5, also representatives of the smaller Powers. TO SETTLE, PROCEDURE CHIEF DELEGATES MEET UNDER WHICH ARTICLE? Rec. 12.50 a.m. London, Sept. 5. No meeting of the League Council will be held to-day, says the United Press correspondent at Geneva, but instead Mr. Eden and M. Laval and Baron Aloisi will confer to decide whether the dispute should be discussed under Article 11 of the covenant invoked by Abyssinia in January or under Article 15, invoked in April. There is a tendency to suppose that Britain leans toward the latter, which envisages recommendations for a settlement leading up to sanctions under Article 16. The Paris Press is disposed to see an easing of the tension at Geneva, for which Mr. Eden’s temperate speech is believed to be largely responsible. L’Oeuvre says the big event of the day was M. Laval’s speech confirming the position of France as definitely beside Great Britain. SUPPORT FOR LEAGUE APPEAL BY ARCHBISHOP By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Moved by the recent appeal of the League of Nations Union of New Zealand and by the present condition of in-, ternational affairs the Most Rev. Dr. T. O’Shea, S.M-, Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan, has issued a pastoral letter drawing attention to the need for greater interest in the purposes, aims and objects of this excellent institution. The Archbishop states: “It is quite true that the League of Nations has not done all that was expected of it since its establishment after the war, yet imperfect though it may be it is the embodiment of a great Christian ideal—that of the reign of peace established on the universal recognition of justice and the practice of charity, and as such it is worthy of the respect and support of all Catholics. If it were made effective by the nations comprising it it could put a stop to that mad race of armaments that has been going on ever since the Great War.”