HOPE SEEN

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1935, Page 5

HOPE SEEN

TENSION EASED PROMISE FROM ITALY WAY TO PEACE EXPLORED ITALY CAUSED TO THINK GRAVE; NOT HOPELESS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 9.35 p.m. London, Sept. 5. In contrast to impressions elsewhere the Daily Telegraph sees signs of a break in the tension at Geneva. Its usually wellinformed French correspondent, who is at present at Geneva, affirms that M. Laval in the course of continuous pourparlers with Rome during the past fortnight appears to have secured some sort of promise that for the time being Italy will not engage in any warlike operations unless she is provoked and compelled to protect her own troops. Another important point is that Baron Aloisi will not raise any objection to the appointment of a committee of rapporteurs to explore again a way to a peaceful settlement and define the outline thereof. It is an open secret that Mr. Eden refrained from disclosing fully the Franco-British proposals which were rejected by Signor Mussolini on August 16 because M. Laval convinced him that the offer was likely to be renewed in a different form and that there would be a better chance of favourable consideration if the world had not learned the details.

“The unadvertised movements of the British fleet during the past fortnight have obviously given cause for earnest thought at Rome, where it is now recognised that should the League take action to restrain Italy she would no longer be in a position to defend the Brenner Pass. “Baron Aloisi told journalists that there was no question of Italy ‘walking out’; she was at Geneva because shq wished to participate in all the discussions with every member of the League but Abyssinia. He hinted that the proposal submitted' by Mr. Eden at Rome and the British and French proposals at Paris were rejected in the belief that something more attractive might be forthcoming later. ' “Tiie note struck by Baron Aloisi is not perhaps encouraging; nevertheless Rome may yet be persuaded to recognise that the proposals for an international organisation to preserve order- in and around the borders of Abyssinia put forward from Paris may still be worthy of consideration.” The Geneva correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the ' impression left by to-day’s events “is that the position is grave but not hopeless. It has become known that Signor Mussolini does not exclude the possibility of a solution emerging which would render it unnecessary for him to launch an attack on Abyssinia.” . M. Laval, speaking to reporters, said there was still a ray of hope and the door was not yet closed to final agreement. . . Italy’s indictment of Abyssinia alleges that the Emperor himself receives an annual tribute of 200 slaves from the provincial governors in-lieu of subsidies of gold. “ITALY’S MISJUDGMENT’ BRITAIN NOT BLUFFING GROWING OPPOSITION Rec. 7.35 p.m. London, Sept. 5. “The Italian reply to the conciliation offers has produced a deplorable impression,” says the Geneva correspondent of the Times. “The feeling is strong that Italy has utterly misjudged the dimensions of the problem and the psychology of the peoples and Governments with whom she is dealing. “Signor Mussolini apparently still clings to the notion that Britain is bluffing and that France and other countries in apy event will not follow her lead. Evidence, however, is growing that France supports Britain and that the minor Powers a re solid in their condepmation of the Italian policy. “It is understood the Little Entente has decided to participate in any sanctions proposed by Britain and France. The intervention of the Spanish delegate in the debate of the Council was significant of the feeling of other States. “British circles feel that Italy has underestimated the sincerity of the offers of help and the genuineness of the growing opposition to her methods both in Britain and in Europe.” It is stated officially from Rome that 14 officers and 79 other ranks died in East Africa between June 26 and August 31, making 130 deaths since January 1. The British Trades Union Congress overwhelmingly rejected a resolution favouring the United Front against War and Fascism and calling upon the International Federation of Trades Unions to accede to the Red International’s request for a meeting to discuss joint action. Mr, Walter Citrine said the Red International stood for the violent overthrow of the existing order and for organising workers for the overthrow of Capitalism. The whole purpose of the United Front movement, whose tactics had never changed, was to enter the trade union movement and use it as a vehicle for the propagation of Communist principles and nothing else. The Trades Union Council, the National Executive of the Labour Party, and the Parliamentary Labour Party executive jointly passed a resolution condemning Signor Mussolini’s defiance of the League and called on the British Government to summon a world economic conference to deal with the international control of supplies of raw materials, with the application of the principle of equality for all nations in undeveloped regions.