"TO DIE FREE”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 169, 22 July 1935, Page 7

"TO DIE FREE”

BETTER THAN SLAVERY UNITE AGAINST INVADER EMPEROR’S EXHORTATION IBy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) ADDIS ABABA, July 19. ‘•lie who dies for his country is a happy man,” declared the Emperor of Ethiopia after a review of his troops. lit an appeal to young and eld, men and women, to unite against an invader, he added: “It is better to die free than to live as slaves. “Mussolini has declared that Italy is on a civilising mission. He wants to exclude a peaceful solution. He wants a bloody settlement of the old Adowa affair.” ITALIAN PRETEXT CAMPAIGN OP CONQUEST. STATEMENT Bl' EMPEBOE. Deceived July 21, 9.40 p.m. A DDLS ABABA, July 20. “Italy is seeking a pretext to initiate a campaign of vilification with a ' iew 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 native employees of a commercial agency and Iccal police, which has been misrepresent ea as a grave international incident. Recognising that military pre--1 amtions are unjustifiable morally and ;udicially, Italy seeks to justify her refusal to execute her international engagements by denouncing us as savages. yet.itself resorting to the most Ba' age methods of all. bhe is also reeking to create dissension between oar races and religions, which have never been more united. We categorically announce that we will not accept a solution involving an Italian, 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 members of the League obligated to safeguard, and a great nation avowing preference for glorious war and cynically urging tl*2 necessity for expansion.” / The Emperor protests against the arbitary application of the arms embargo helping a stronger nation, which is counter to all concepts of modern civilisation. He adds that he conMUSSOLINI INCENSED MINISTER TO PROTEST. Received July 21. 6.15 p.m. ROME, July 20. Signor Mussolini is incensed at the Emperor, Silassie’s speech, -which he considers warlike, and has instructed the Italian Minister at Addis Ahaha to strongly protest. WAR INEVITABLE BELIEF IN EGYPT. SANDBAGS EGR ADDIS ABABA. Received July 21. 7.4 p.m. CAIRO, July 20. A million sandbags have been dis patched to Addis Ababa to protect the British Legation in f he event of war. which Egypt believes is inevitable. HEAT TAKES TOLL ITALIANS IN AFRICA. Received July 21. 6.15 p.m. ROME, July 21. It is semi-officially announced that the Azione Coloniale admits 70 sunstroke deaths among the Italian forces East Africa. SPECIAL INTEREST JAPAN AND ABYSSINIA FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS. TOK 10, July 19. The Foreign Minister (Mr. K. Hirota) has announced that Japan is specially itaterested in Abyssinia economically and could not remain unconcerned in the possibility of war. Statements that Japan had assured Mussolini that she would not interfere 1 in Abyssinia were officially denied. An official message from Rome on July 16 stated that the Japanese Ambassador had informed Mussolini that Japan would not intervene in Abysinia, in which she had no politi cal interests. MEANS FOR PEACE BRITAIN STILL SEARCHING DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES I British Oflicial Wireless. I , RUGBY. July 19. . 1 tie British Government continues to i be actively engaged through diplomatic exchanges in Rome and Paris in effort> ■ Io discover a means for a direct and peaceful settlement of the Jtalo-Ethio-pian dispute. These efforts will certainly be continued until success iachieved c-r until the matter comes before the League Council. In the latter event it is hoped that Italy as well as Abyssinia will be prepared to submit a lull and frank statement in order that the Council shall be fully : informed upon all the fad.- in the Members of the Council have been i asked to hold themselves in readiness to attend a meeting which may be summoned about the eml of this month.

M. AVENOL’S TRIP DISCUSSIONS IN PARIS MiSSGLINI ANU LI.AG 11. I British Oflicial Wireless. | RUGBY, July 19. 'I in- S' cietary General t f the League ' of .\aiion.s M. Avcnul. who was jn i J-cn.jjn last week ami discussed League | procedure iu connection with certain matters, has now concluded his visit to l’ari>, where discussions with l-'rcnili Ministers took placv. M. Aveuol will " Hirn to Paris . „ Monday, y I i,. assume,! that lie will be informed of the, latest results of diplomatic consultations. * -Newspapers slate (hat arguments addressed by the League to Rome arc made by Signor Mussolini f<.-f League of Nations machinery for putting forward Italy's case against An.-trnli.i, which li<i h not yet, been officially formulated to the public.