BRITAIN “ASTONISHED”

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1935, Page 5

BRITAIN “ASTONISHED”

ATTITUDE OF THE FRENCH

ITS RELY “OPEN TO DOUBT.” LEAGUE TRIUMPH NEEDED Rec. 5.5 p.m. Paris, Oct. 15. “We are astonished and, why not say it, shocked by the apparent hesitation and egotistical considerations which seem to characterise the French attitude towards the Italo-Abyssinian conflict,” said Sir Austen Chamberlain in an interview with the Paris newspaper le Soir. “The British reply to the question whether we are prepared to maintain the Covenant leaves no doubt, but the French reply is doubtful. “It is not a question of knowing whether the sources of the Nile are secure, but whether the new system of international relations is to perish or survive. If other signatories of the Covenant fail to keep their engagements in this decisive hour Britain will consider herself released from her obligations. If the Covenant triumphs the confidence we have placed in it will be reaffirmed and a precedent created whereby Britain will regulate her conduct in other crises.”

It is reported that M. Laval told Signor Cerrutti, the Italian Ambassador at Paris that his peace proposals were a final attempt. He emphasised that the League’s economic sanctions would not be completely drafted at Geneva and could not be enforced for ten days or a fortnight. Italy should use the interval to enter real peace negotiations; otherwise all sanctions of the Covenant, to which France would fully subscribe, would come into operation.

Though Whitehall denies that any peace proposals were discussed at Paris the British United Press correspondent at Geneva says that an unconfirmed report stated that M. Laval and Signor Cerrutti discussed details of a plan, including the stoppage of hostilities, Italy to be given the provinces of Ogaden and Harrar, a protectorate in Tigre, a railway zone linking Eritrea and Somaliland, and Abyssinia to be given an outlet to the sea at Zeila.

An Addis Ababa message says that Count Vinci was delighted to learn that Italy approved of his “emulation of the captain and the sinking ship.” He has refused to leave Addis Ababa.