ERITREA RAIDED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 163, 19 July 1935, Page 3

ERITREA RAIDED

By Abyssinian Parties ITALIAN OUTPOST ATTACKED WOMEN AND CHILDREN KILLED By Telegraph—Copyright —Press Assn. ROME, July 18. An official communique alleges that Abyssinian parties crossed the Abys-sinian-Eritrean frontier and attacked a small Italian outpost at Doi. The attackers were repulsed. Other raiding parties simultaneously penetrated the Mada Plain, killing and wounding unarmed herdsmen, women and children and capturing 400 head of cattle. The raiders took as slaves several prisoners of both sexes. An Italian detachment sent from Assab to punish the raiders arrived too late and halted at the Abyssinian frontier in accordance with orders. Forty-nine Italian families arrived at Aden aboard a coastal steamer from Djibouti. They were transhipped to an Italian steamer for Italy. An Italian warship is standing by for further evacuations. Intense heat is reported from Eritrea, where from ten to twelve Italian soldiers are said to be dying daily. A large number of sick troops traversed Aden on July 16 en route home. SLAVERY SUPPRESSION 1 British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 17. The subject of slavery was discussed in the House of Lords in connection with the recent report of the Slavery Committee of the League of Nations. Lord Cecil and the Archbishop of Canterbury paid a tribute to the work of the British Governments for the last 100 years and since the war at Geneva in support of the movement for the supression of slavery.

The archbishop complained of the need for more information from certain areas, and advocated a special agreement regarding traffic in slaves in territories round the Red Sea and other places. With regard to Abyssinia, he said that it was only fair to recognise that the Emperor was trying to suppress slavery there in spite of difficulties, and Lord Noel Buxton and Lord Polworth spoke to the same effect in referring to their personal experiences in Abyssinia. Replying to the debate, Lord Stanhope said that the Government was anxious to increase the influence and power of the League’s Slavery Committee, and would give to its work the fullest possible support. With regard to the Red Sea traffic, he claimed that preventive measures in which British forces took part had reduced a big stream to a ripple. Lord Polworth said that the Emperor had told him in 1932 that slavery would be extinct in 12, and certainly in 20 years. His own people gave the number of their slaves at between 500,000 and 600,000. Accepting the official figure of 3643 slaves liberated in the past year, it was clear that it would be a long time at that rate before slavery was extinct. Lord Stanhope said that the idea of a convention of Powers round the Red Sea was receiving attention. Mr. Eden’s recommendation that a special meeting of the League Committee on Slavery be held in 1936 would be considered by the Assembly in September. EMPEROR INTERVIEWED By Telegraph—Copyright—Press As. LONDON, July 17. “The Times” Addis Ababa correspondent states that the Emperor, in an exclusive interview, said he desired a League discussion on the Abyssinian question by July 25, before which he was not taking diplomatic steps, but would nevertheless reply to any direct suggestions from Britain. He acknowledged the value of the 1906 treaty as an instrument of pacification, but said Britain was the only co-signatory which now maintained its application, and in the face of Signor Mussolini’s actions it seemed valueless. The Emperor was delighted at the attitude of Sir Samuel Hoare and Mr. Anthony Eden, and was not averse to a free hand for Britain in a constructive peace effort. If Italy’s argument for the conquest of Abyssinia was civilisation, slavery was not limited to Abyssinia, but flourished in Tripoli and Eritrea, which the Italians could not deny. The Treaty of 1931 allowed Abys-

sinia to import arms and maintain independence, blit she could not do so if Italy were allowed to send munitions while the Abyssinian licences were withheld. ( If Italy declared war or troops I dared to cross the frontiers, Ethiopia \ would fight, simultaneously appealing to the League. The League Council, according to a Geneva message, will meet between i July 27 and August 2 to discuss the 1 Abyssinian question. FRENCH OVERTURES By Telegrapk —Copyright—Press Assn. LONDON, July 18. “The Times” Paris' correspondent; says that the French Government’s efforts are now directed towards persuading Signor Musolini to state his case at Geneva, and it is admitted that he has a case. It is being put ’ to him that if Italy refused it would ' be a deadly blow to the League, which might have serious effects on the whole European situation. It is also held that if Italy has , faith in the justice of her cause it is only reasonable to suppose that she ■ will use the League’s machinery to help her solve the crisis.