FORMULA SOUGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 5

FORMULA SOUGHT

SETTLEMENT OF THE WAR THREE SIDES TO SATISFY BRITAIN’S POLICY PLAIN DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES British Wireless. Rugby, Oct. 31. Proposals for a settlement of the ItaloAbyssinian war, which were brought to the notice of the British Government as they emerged from the recent FrancoItalian diplomatic exchanges, were subjected to a most careful examination at London but were considered to be unlikely to prove acceptable to Abyssinia and to the League, within the framework of which it had been stated a settlement must be reached. In view of the special responsibility entrusted to the British and French Governments in the earlier stages of the dispute, and the fact that they were in complete agreement as to the general conditions to which any settlement must conform, it has been thought wise to consider, and, if possible, agree upon the outline of a settlement which in the view of these governments would be fair and acceptable to Abyssinia, Italy and the League. For this purpose the head ciE the Abyssinian department of the British Foreign Office has been in consultation at Paris with the corresponding official of the Quai d’Orsay. These experts aie not yet able to reach a final conclusion It is understood that considerable progress has been made on a plan which it is believed involves closer precision of the proposals submitted to Italy by Britain and France during the Three-Power conference at Paris in August. CRITERION WANTED. Reports that last week’s discussions at Paris were designed to draw up a peace plan for immediate submission to Rome and the League are untrue. The main purpose of the discussions was to discover a plan which might serve as a criterion by which future proposals might be judged. In the course of an election speech in his constituency to-day Sir Samuel Hoare, Foreign Secretary, speaking of the international situation, referred to what he called the “diverting but very transparent game which consisted of making mysteries and spreading innuendoes. Those whispers and innuendoes, he said, of which the latest examples concerned his forthcoming visit to Geneva, were electioneering pure and simple. The opponents of the Government were trying to make ignorant people believe that there was some disreputable intrigue behind this visit and that it implied some sinister change of policy.

“I am going to Geneva to be there whilst very important discussions are taking place on the application of sanctions,” said Sir Samuel. “Secondly, I ’wanted to take the opportunity that is alwaysoffered by these important meetings of the League to have a talk with M. Laval and some other prominent Ministers of the member States. What could be more natural or simple? f NO CHANGE OF POLICY. “As to the alleged change of policy, let them get that out of their heads once and for all: There had been, and will be, no change of policy, which has always been perfectly simple—loyalty to the League and readiness to help with any honourable settlement of the dispute that is acceptable to the three parties concerned, the League, Italy and Ethiopia.” That was the policy he would support at Geneva, said Sir Samuel. Referring to exchanges which had taken place with a view to finding a basis of settlement he said that an attempt was being made to give an impression that “we are trying to side-track the League and do a disreputable deal with Italy behind iti back. I have already said that there is nothing to conceal about what has beer, happening. “It is common property that several Governments recently have been considering the possibilities of a peaceful settlement and that the British and French Governments in particular have been exchanging views as to what might form a basis of future negotiations. For the time being we are engaged in an exchange of views and nothing has yet emerged. If anything definite does emerge we shall, of course, take the earliest opportunity to report to the League. “If eventually a settlement is proved possible that settlement would, as 1 have stated over and over again, be within the framework of the League and would have to be satisfactory to the League, Italy and Abyssinia.