ABYSSINIAN DISPUTE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 May 1936, Page 5

ABYSSINIAN DISPUTE

“ A COLONIAL AFFAIR” MUSSOLINI’S CONTENTION. Press Association Electric Telecranh—Copyright LONDON, Friday. “The Times” Rome correspondent says it is denied that Marshal Badoglio has been hastily recalled owing to the European situation. He is returning for a short period of leave-, partly for health reasons, and also because- Signor Mussolini desires a full report on the situation in Abyssinia. Signor Mussolini throughout has insisted that the Abyssinian dispute should bo regarded purely as a colonial affair, devoid of European repercussions and claims to have- maintained his pledge to prevent the African conflict from developing into a European war. There is now no doubt that his recent declarations to Mr Ward Price were intended for the British nation at large, and it will not be surprising, therefore, if he- now follows- up these declarations by taking soundings in a more official manner.

BRITAIN AND INCIDENTS. ENERGETIC STEPS. LONDON, Thursday. Hn reply 1 to questions in the House of Commons concerning the arrest at Diredawa of Mr Bunner, a warrantofficer attached to the British ambulance unit in Abyssinia, while he was en route to Aden for treatment for rabies, the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Lord Cranbourne, said that the Italian authorities maintained that Bunner had been employed with the Abyssinian forces. The Foreign Secretary telegraphed to the British Ambassador, who detailed the circumstances of Bunners’ arrest, and added that Bunner told the consul at Diredawa that he had lost or been deprived of a packet containing money, and that the train left without him while Bunner was making enquiries. The Foreign Office was making every effort to ascertain Bunner’s whereabouts.

Mr F. Cocks (Lab., Broxtowe): What right under international law have th’© Italians to arrest a British subject in a neutral, friendly State? Lord Cranborne: I can assure the House we are taking most energetic steps. In reply to another question, Lord Cranborne- said that the Foreign Office is making enquiries also about the disappearance of a diplomatic bag on the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway.