"ABYSSINIA STILL UNCONQUERED ”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20442, 12 June 1936, Page 9

" ABYSSINIA STILL UNCONQUERED ”

MINISTER’S BOLD CHALLENGE WIDE AREA DEFIES ITALIANS CHANCELLOR DENOUNCES SANCTIONS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 11, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. "Abyssinia is still unconquered, and the war goes on,” said Mr Herrouy, Foreign Minister for Abyssinia, on arrival in London where he resumes his post as adviser to the Emperor. “The Abyssinian Government still rules from Gore in the west,” added M. Herrouy, “where there are 10,000 wellarmed warriors. Ras Desta, in the south, has 15,000 men, and scattered troops from Ogaden are reforming. The rains have immobilised the Italians, whose aeroplanes are helpless owing to low clouds. The Italians’ roads are useless and they are prisoners in their own garrisons. The Abyssinian armies will resume resistance in October when the rains are over. It will be mountain warfare and one third of the country is still intact.” OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE ADMITTED FAILURE OF SANCTIONS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 11, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. Condemning the policy of continuing sanctions, Mr Neville Chamberlain (Chancellor of the Exchequer), speaking at a political dinner, declared that sanctions would only lead to further misfortunes. Referring to Lord Robert Cecil’s claim that it is still possible to preserve Abyssinia’s independence by pursuing sanctions, Mr Chamberlain said: That seems to be the very midsummer of madness. It is no use shutting one’s eyes to realities. Sanctions have been tried and failed. I am not blaming anyone for the failure, but merely record it now because if we have retained any vestige of commonsense, we must admit we tried to impose upon the League of Nations a task beyond its powers. What of the Future? Mr Chamberlain said that the nations composing the League of Nations must therefore decide so as to limit the League's functions in the future that they may be in accord with its real powers. If that policy were courageously carried through, I believe it might go far to restore the Hague’s prestige, although it must be admitted that with the League so limited it could not any longer be relied upon by itself to secure peace for Lie world. It is now apparent that the policy of sanctions involves if not war, at least the risk of war, and that risk must increase in proportion to the effectiveness of sanctions. It is also apparent, in the presence of such risk, that nations cannot be relied on to proceed to the extremity of war, unless their vital interests are threatened. Mr Chamberlain suggested the exploration of the possibility of localising the world’s danger spots with a view to more pratical methods of ensuring peace by regional arrangements approved by the League of Nations.

NEWSPAPERS SURPRISED “IS HE SPEAKING FOR HIMSELF?” United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 11, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. The newspapers give great prominence to Mr Chamberlain’s "End Sanctions” speech, and they ask whether he is speaking for himself or for the Cabinet. The speech was delivered at the 1900 Club's dinner, at which Mr Chamberlain was a guest of honour. Four hundred Conservatives attended and Lord Londonderry presided. CALL ON HAILE SELASSIE DUKE’S KINDLY GESTURE British OffiHri Wireless RUGBY, June 10. The Duke of Gloucester called at the house in Kensington where the Emperor of Ethiopia is staying incognito. The Duke became acquainted with the Emperor when he visited Addis Ababa some years ago to represent the late King at the Imperial Coronation. The visit to the Emperor to-day was in recognition of the hospitality which his Royal Highness received on that occasion, and was of a private and informal nature. The Emperor’s daughter, Princess Tshai, who accompanied him to London, was conducted over the House of Parliament by one of the women members this afternoon, and was present in the ladies’ gallery of the House of Commons at question time. SUBMISSION OF CHIEFS N”W VICEROY’S SINISTER THREAT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright ADDIS ABABA, June 10. Tile Viceroy solemnly promised generosity towards the loyal, and ruthlessness towards the treacherous. General Graziani has received the submission of Ras Hailu and over 50 other Abyssinian chiefs.