ITALY AND ABYSSINIA

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 February 1935, Page 5

ITALY AND ABYSSINIA

FEELING IN BRITAIN

CONCERN GROWING.

Press Association Elec* v *'' rr,n lecr<>T>h—Oonyright LONDON, Friday.

British concern at the Italo-Abys-sinian dispute is grooving. Cabinet discussed the situation at yesterday’s meeting:— The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says that information from Rome indicates that Italy’s demands are no longer confined to reparations for the Ualual affair. Italy has long desired greater trading facilities with Ethiopia, and is seemingly determined to take advantage of the present dispute to secure a general settlement. The British Government has already made urgent representations at Addis Ababa, and may think it necessary to draw Signor Mussolini’s attention to some implications the Emperor, Ras Tafari, is relying on League support.

Britain and France are both anxious that the League should not be compelled to adjudicate in a situation involving a European Power whose co-opera-tion has been so warmly welcomed since the Rome agreements. British efforts are directed to securing a settlement of the recent incidents, leaving the question of trading facilities generally to be dealt with subsequently, since these affect Ethiopian, British, French and Italian interests alike. DISQUIETING SITUATION. (Received Saturdav, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Friday. Further urgent British representations in connection with the ItaloAbyssinian dispute were made at Rome and at Addis Ababa. To-night Sir Eric Drummond, the British Ambassador, called on Signor Suvich. The situation is regarded as disquieting. Britain appealed to the Italians for moderation, but has been pointedly informed that she is behaving less like a nation than the Abyssinians.

Signor Mussolini’s major difficulty seems to be the Young Fascists, the extremist element of the party, who arc clamouring for colonial expansion and hungering for strife with the Abyssinians. JAPAN’S ATTITUDE. (Received Saturday, 11.35 a.m.) ROME, Friday. The Japanese Ambassador states that there is no question of Japan helping Abyssinia in the event of hostilities.