BITTER ATTACK

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1937, Page 7

BITTER ATTACK

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

HANDLING OF CRISIS LLOYD GEORGE CRITICAL "ATROCITIES" BY ITALIANS ADD1S ABABA "BUTCHERY" PROTESTS IN COMMONS

Rec. 7 p.m. London, March 25. Attention to the shock to public opinion as a result of the Addis Ababa massacre was drawn in the House of Commons to-day by Mr. Henderson on a motion for an adjournment. The horror was accentuated, he said, as the excesses were perpetrated in a Christian country. The American Minister at Addis Ababa had allowed 700 Abyssinians refuge in the American compound until he received an Italian assurance that they would be properly treated and their lives spared, auded Mr. Henderson. Nevertheless they were butchered like cattle when they left the compound. Mr. Henderson said he hoped Britain still had the moral courage to protest against this ruthlessness. Mr. Henderson also denounced Italian intervention in Spain and demanded a commission of inquiry. Anti-Brltlsh Propaganda. Mr. G. Mander drew attention to antiBritish propaganda in all languages, especially Oriental, emanating from Berlin and Rome. Mr. H. G. Nicholson said anyone who had recently been abroad was appalled at the effect of foreign broadcasts throughout the world, especially on African natives. Mr. Lloyd George declared that the British foreign policy was a succession of blunders. The action in Manchuria was an utter fiasco; in Abyssinia it was humiliation; non-intervention in Spain was completely ineffective. , He askied if Britain had abandoned every pledge to Abyssinia and if she had taken any steps to the League with a view to entering a great international protest against the most horrible massacre of modern times. Report Not Believed. Mr. Lloyd. George declared that an Italian army had invaded Spain and was fightihg under Signor Mussolini's orders, not General Franco's. If the Italians conquered Spain the country would be a Fascist State and Italy would dominate the Mediterranean. He urged regarding tlie proposed Locarno Pact that Britain should go as far with Herr Hitler as he was prepared to go on vital isssues. Lord Cranborne in replying in the absence of Mr. R. A. Eden said he did not believe the report that Signor Mussolini was organising two further divisions to fight in Spain. He pointed out that reference of the Italian intervention to the League was a matter for the Spanish Government. Lord Cranbo.rne said too much importance should not be attached to propaganda as example was better than precept. Regarding the Addis Ababa massacre he said Britain throughout the Abyssinian dispute was concerned collectively with the League, which without British membership would not have taken any action. Lord Cranborne promised to bring all Mr. Lloyd George's points before Mr. Eden. He said he was not briefed to answer I.Ir. Lloyd George, whose attack was not expected to improve AngloItalian relations. Meanwhile the nonintervention control scheme which was intended to operate at the week-end had again been postponed a week,_ while the technical committees would sit at London through Easter.