APPEAL TO LEAGUE PRINCIPLES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20165, 20 July 1935, Page 17

APPEAL TO LEAGUE PRINCIPLES

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE TO ABYSSINIA CONSISTENT EFFORTS FOR PEACE British Official Wireless (Received July 19, 6,30 p.ra.) RUGBY, July 17. Replying in the House of Commons to a question regarding the maintenance of Abyssinia's rights as a member of the League of Nations, Mr R. A. Eden (Minister for League Affairs), said that the British Government, in . endeavouring to further an amicable settlement of the Italo-Ethioplan dispute, had had and would continue to have a full regard for the rights and obligations of States-members of the League of Nations. Attitude of Britain. Dr. Evan Wallace, speaking at Malton, declared that the Government did not intend to be the League’s sole policeman. It was not going to be stampeded by belligerent pacifists into aggressiveness regarding the ItaloAbyssinian dispute. Secondary Importance. The Paris correspondent of "The Morning Post’’ says: France considers that whatever the rights or wrongs of the Italo-Abyssinian dispute, the whole problem is of secondary importance compared with the European situation, for the satisfactory solution of which the eo-operation of Italy is essential to her, especially regarding the Austrian problem. France will not therefore consent to risk the friendship of Italy on jtccount of Abyssinia. Though the . question of the League principle is involved, Abyssinia’s conquest by Italy, in the French view, would be a lesser . blow to the League.of Nations than the Italian exit from Geneva. MAINTAINING MORALE OF ITALIANS INCREASES IN PAY OF RANKS United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 19, 7.15 p.m.) ROME. July 19. Signor Mussolini is aiming to maintain the morale of the troops in East Africa, by increasing the pay of privates receiving 20d daily, compared with 1 3-5 d in Italy, corporals 2/-, cor-poral-majors 2/4. If in Somaliland, the troops receive an additional 4d • each, also increased rations and improved postal services. “IF WAR COMES” STATEMENT BY MR LYONS United Preps Association— By Electric Telegraph - -Copyright (Received July 19, 8.35 p.m.) VICTORIA (8.C.). July 18. “If war comes it will have been caused by the politicians and not by the people," said Mr J. A. Lyons (Prime Minister of Australia) to-day before leaving en route to San Franciscp. "I am sure war thoughts do not spring from the hearts of the people in any country. We should take all the Government heads once a year to the battlefields of France and let them meditate. While you in Canada have not completed your great War Memorial and neither have we, it is unbelievable that these countries would wish to go to war.” Mr Lyons urged closer friendship and a more equitable scale of trade relations between Canada and Australia. He believed that better Pacific relations would bring more stable world confidence. < “GOD WILL BE OUR SHIELD” 1 ABY'SSINIA’S REPLY TO ITALY United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright ADDIS ABABA. July 18. The Emperor of Ethiopia (Ras Tafari), in addressing Parliament, said ; that although Italy possessed all the • weapons of modern warfare she would yet see how a united Abyssinia could “-defend her territory. 1 The Emperor, in reviewing his troops said: "God will be your shield. Your Sovereign is with you and will not hesitate to shed his blood in the defence of his country’s independence.” The Rome correspondent of the ■' "Morning Post” states that if the League of Nations Council supports the suggestion of a compromise in the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia as co-equals at Geneva, Italy will not tolerate such an assumption of ‘ equality. Italy expects the League to expel Abyssinia from Geneva, otherwise Italy will leave.