BRITAIN FIRM

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19662, 23 August 1935, Page 7

BRITAIN FIRM

OBLIGATIONS TO LEAGUE. the use of sanotions. SPEAK WITH SINGLE VOICE, United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Aug. 21. Well-informed persons stated that a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee -of the Cabinet this evening decided to recommend to the full Cabinet that Britain stand firmly to her obligations under the League Covenant. The decision implies, if the League Council declares Italy an aggressor, the use of sanctions against Italy. The News Chronicle says the visit of Opposition leaders to Whitehall Is interpreted as a desire on the part of the Government to call a political truce t-o enable Britain to speak with a single voiceThe paper publishes declarations by Mr G. Lansbury and Major Attlee assuring the Government of Labour’s unqualified support If it is loyal to League principles. 'Major Attlee says there is no question of Britain acting unilaterally hut, given a guarantee of united League action, lie’ personally will support all measures, even to the use of the United British and French fleets. However, it should not be difficult to bring economic pressure to bear on Italy.

ITALIAN CONSUL SHOT. WHILE ON HUNTING EXPEDITION. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Aug. 22. A message from Addis Ababa states that Baron Salconi, Italian Consul at Debromarcos, 125 miles north-west of the Abyssinian capital, w ! as shot while on a hunting expedition- lie was conveyed to hospital. A telegram from Berlin says there is an unconfirmed report there that Italy has broken off relations with Abyssinia on aocount of this Incident. Large crowds of people in Downing Street this morning watched Ministers enter No. 10 after facing a small army of photographers and cinema men. By 10 o’clock all the 22 members of the Cabinet had arrived. / It, is expected that the deliberations will last all day. (Received Aug. 23, ll v .O a.m.) ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 22. The Italian Legation announces that Baron Salb-oni was accidentally wounded by his own gun.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS. ITALY TIG BE REPRESENTED. CASE AGAINST ABYSSINIA. United Press Assn'. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Aug. 22. The Daily Mail’s Home correspondent says Italy definitely will be represented at Hie meeting of the Council of the League of Nations on September 4, when Hie full facts of her case against Ay-ssinia will be laid before Hie Council. Signor Mussolini has so decided because lie is convinced that Hig, Council then will appreciate the incontrovertible nature of Italy’s rigiU.ncss and Ibe integrity of her intentions.

HOPES FOR CONCILIATION. THE ATTITUDE IN FRANCE. FEAR OF PRECIPITATE ACTION. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Aug. 22. The Paris correspondent of the Times says that responsible Frenchmen are hoping that the tension which the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia lias caused in the reunions between Britain and Italy will not lead Hie British Cabinet to make precipitate decisions or to formulate a policy for the meeting of Hie League Council which would make conciliation impossible. Admittedly, (he hope of a favourable development between now and September 4 is most slender, but it is felt that calm and caution now may improve matters, whereas recriminations would only make them worse. Undoubtedly, the French Prime Minister, M. Laval, will seize any opportunity that may lie offered for future -conciliation, but Hie French Government is convinced that no opening will be .found if anything is said or done to exacerbate Italian feeling still further, or to make a relaxation of Signor Mussolini’s altitude impossible without humiliation. Limitation of Conflict. French hopes of peace, therefore, ha'ng on the faint possibility of Italian initiative, but if these are dashed the French Government’s next concern will he to limit the inevitable conflict. Sanctions against Italy, in the French view, would run the lisle of extending it. If fighting must occur Hie French are hoping it will be brief, taking the form of (he rapid seizure of undefended, outlying points and areas. However, whatever Hie course of events it is certain I hat Hie French Government, while abating nothing of ils belief in support for the League ns an inslrumen!, ol' European peace, will decline’lo use il in such a way as to bring into Europe a conllicl which at present is confined to a mure distant ami less vital quarter of, the globe.

EFFECT ON STOCK EXCHANGE. MATERIAL LOSSES SUSTAINED. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON, Aug. 21. Nmvs of litc Ministers’ Conference aml .Mr Ramsay .MacDonald's reference In );i 1 i weakened sentiment on Hie London Slock Exchange, and t[Uolations in many directions closed with material losses on the day,