FATEFUL MEETING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 208, 5 September 1935, Page 7

FATEFUL MEETING

DELEGATES AT GENEVA ITALIANS’ EVIDENCE CONTAINED IN EIGHT LARGE CASES (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Sept. 4, 9.5 p.m. GENEVA, Sept. 4. AU the delegates have arrived, including Baron Aloisi, who has brought eight large White wooden cases carefully roped and sealed, containing documentary and photographic evidence, with which Signor Mussolini hopes to convince the Council that Abyssinia is unlit to be a member of the League. It seems that Baron Aloisi’s arguments will be a contradiction of the Fascist Government’s view of .1930, when it took a prominent part in recommending Abyssinia for League membership. Delegates are opposed to the Italian designs, and point to Article 12 of the Covenant showing that unsatifsactory relations between States should, through the League machinery, be the occasion for explanatory conciliation and not hostilities. There is no sign in the British quarters of retreat from the belief that if Italy rejects wise counsel and insists on conquest, the security of every country in Europe will be af fected by the destruction of confidence in the stability based on signed agreements. It is anticipated that the proceed-

ings will open to-day witn a private meeting, followed by a public meeting. Italy is expected to argue that her offensive represents not war, but mere policing action. M. Laval, on his arrival from Paris, said: “The situation appears more difficult. I am trying to localise the dangers, seeking a policy of the lesser evil.”

LEAGUE DELEGATES CONVERSATIONS IN PARIS THE OIL CONCESSION NOT BELEVENT TO GENEVA ISSUES [ British Official Wireless. 1 RUGBY, Sept. 3. The heads of the British and French delegations to to-morrow’s special mooting of the League Council travelled by the same train from Paris to Geneva, where they arrived this morning. At a preliminary exchange of views between the two Ministers in Paris last evening Mr Anthony Eden was accompanied by Sir George Clerk, British Ambassador in Paris, and Sir Robert Vansittart, Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who had arrived from Aix-les-Bains, where he had met the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin). Air William Strang, Foreign Office adviser on League Affairs, was also in attendance. The French Prime Minister (M. Laval) was accompanied by M. Alexis Leger, Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs. It is understood that the principal subjects discussed were the oil and mineral concession granted by the Emperor of Abyssinia to an American corporation, the report prepared by Air Eden on the Paris Three-Power conversations, and the question of procedure at Geneva.

The Paris conversation is but the first of a series which will be held during the next few days at Geneva. They will have particular "reference to the procedure at the Council meeting, for although the form in which, the result of the Paris Three-Power negotiations will be reported is not yet settled, this is not expected to present difficulties; and in view of Af. Laval’s ready acceptance of the British Government’s entire good faith regarding the Abyssinian concession that matter is no longer regarded as relevant so far as the issues at Geneva are concerned. Probable Procedure After yesterday’s talk it was considered probable that following the submission of the report on the Paris negotiations the case for Abyssinia will be laid before the League Council, and that this will be followed by a statement of Italy’s case, in support of which it is understood lengthy documents will he submitted. The subsequent procedure will be settled by the League Council, but to some extent it must obviously depend on the development of further Anglo-French exchanges. Delegates of both countries were in joint consultation this morning. The conversations with the French Prime Minister were continued at Geneva to-day, and Air Eden also saw other members of the League Council and the Secretary-General of the League, Af. Avenol. B.eport on Waiwal In addition to hearing the report on the Three-Power Conference which broke down in Paris on August 18, when the Italian Government rejected the Anglo-French proposals for a possible settlement of the dispute with Abyssinia, the Council will receive the report on the Waiwal invident of the Ualo-Ethiopian Commission of Arbitration set up under the 1928 Tieaty of Amity. The Commission, wnich was unable to reach an agreement as original!, constituted, finished its work under the presidency of a fifth neutral member, the . well-known jurist, Af. Politis, Greek Afinister in Paris. This evening Air Eden motored across the frontier from Geneva to Aix-les-Bains to dine with the Prime Minister, who is leaving for London tomorrow. SPECIAL SERVICE BLESSING ON LEAGUE’S WORK IBntiak Official Wlralaaa.] RUGBY, Sept. 3. A special service of intercession will be held in Westminster Abbey this evening to ask Divine blessing on the meeting o f f] ie League Council and on all efforts to promote peace among the nations;