VITAL ISSUES IN ABYSSINIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20166, 22 July 1935, Page 7

VITAL ISSUES IN ABYSSINIA

SMALL NATION VERSUS ARMED GIANT POWERFUL INDICTMENT OF ITALIAN POLICY United Pres- Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright ADDIS ABABA, July 19. “He who dies for his country is a happy man,’’ declared the Emperor of Abyssinia after a review of his troops, in an appeal to young and old men and women to unite against the invader. The Emperor added: “It is better to die free than live as slaves. Signor Mussolini has declared that Italy is on a civilising mission, but he wants to exclude a peaceful solution. He wants a bloody settlement of the old Adowa affair.” Italy Gravely Indicted “Italy is seeking a pretext to initiate a campaign of vilification, with a view to eventual conquest,” declared the Emperor of Abyssinia, in the course of a special statement. “Thus far, Italy has found nothing better than a drunken brawl between the native employees of a commercial agency and the local police, which has been misrepresented as a grave international incident. Recognising her military preparations as unjustifiable, morally and judicially, Italy seeks to justify her refusal to execute her international engagements by denouncing us as savages, yet Italy herself is resorting to the most savage methods of all. She is also seeking to create dissension between our races and religions, which have never been more united. “We categorically announce,” added the Emperor, “that we will not accept a solution involving Italian, or any other protectorate or mandate. The issue is between a small nation, whose attitude is pacific, but which is resolved to defend its territorial integrity and political independence which the members of the League Gf Nations are under an obligation to safeguard, and a great nation avowing preference for glorious war and cynically urging the necessity for expansion.” Arms Embargo Challenged. The Emperor protests against the arbitrary application of the arms embargo which is helping the stronger nation, which is counter to all the concepts of modern civilisation. He adds that he confidently awaits the League’s decisions. “WAR LIKE UTTERANCES” SIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S LATEST MOVE United Press Association—B.v Electric Telegraph -CooyrifzM (Received July 21, 6.30 p.m.) ROME, July 20. Signor Mussolini is incensed at Emperor Sellassie’s speech as he considers it warlike. He has instructed the Italian Minister at Addis Ababa to strongly protest. Deaths from Sunstroke It is semi-officially announced that Signor Azione (Secretary for the Colonials) admits seventy sunstroke deaths among the Italian forces in Africa. ON EVE OF LEAGUE ASSEMBLY BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE DEFINED British Official Wireless (Received July 20, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, July 19, The Secretary-General of the League of Nations, M. Joseph Avenol, has now concluded his visit to Paris, where discussion with the French Ministers took place. M. Avenol will return to Paris on Monday, when, it is assumed, he will be informed of the latest results of the diplomatic consultations. The newspapers state that the arguments addressed by the League to Rome are urging the desirability of efforts being made by Signor Mussolini to use the League of Nations machinery for putting forward Italy’s case against Abyssinia, which has not yet been officially formulated in public. Peaceful Settlement Desired. The British Government continues to be actively engaged, through diplomatic exchanges in Rome and Paris, in its efforts to discover means for a direct, peaceful settlement of the Italo-Ethiopian dispute. These efforts will certainly be continued until success is achieved, or until the matter comes before the League of Nations Council. In the latter event, it is hoped that Italy, as well as Abyssinia, will be prepared to submit a full and frank statement, in order that the League Council, shall be fully informed upon all facts. In this case, members of the Council have been asked to hold themselves in readiness to attend a meeting which may be summoned about the end of the month. ITALY’S WARLIKE PREPARATIONS HALF A MILLION YOUTHS IN TRAINING United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, July 19. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says: “General Grazioli, in reporting to Signor Mussolini on the militarisation of Italy, announced that

40,000 instructors were training 500.000 youths and that every commune was providing special grounds for exercising.” JAPAN WILL NOT REMAIN A SPECTATOR SHARP REMINDER TO AGRESSORS United Press Association —By Electric Telegrapb—CoDvright TOKIO, July 19. The Foreign Minister (Mr Hirota) announced to-day that Japan is specially interested in Abyssinia economically and could not remain unconcerned in the possibility of war between Italy and Abyssinia. The statements that Japan had assured Signor Mussolini (Premier of Italy) that she would not interfere in Abyssinia is officially denied. WAR BELIEVED INEVITABLE STRENGTHENING DEFENCES OF BRITISH LEGATION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 21, 6.30 p.m.) CAIRO, July 20. A million sandbags have been dispatched to Addis Ababa to protect the British Legation in the event of war, which Egypt believes Inevitable,