APPEAL ALLOWED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 137, 7 December 1938, Page 13

APPEAL ALLOWED

CABLES AND WIRELESS, LTD.

HAILE SELASSIE CASE

(Received December 7, 9.50 a.m.)

LONDON;, December 6,

In view of Britain's de jure recognition of the King of Italy as Emperor of Abyssinia, the Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by Cables and Wireless, Ltd., against the verdict last July in favour of Haile Selassie.

In the Chancellery Court in London in March Haile Selassie demanded £10,613 from Cables and Wireless, Ltd. allegedly due under an agreement which the company contended applied to whoever is the Sovereign in Ethiopia. A reply from the Foreign Office on the question which was read out stated that Britain recognised the Italian Government as the Government, de facto, of virtually the whole of Ethiopia. The claim was dismissed, but subsequently appeal was allowed by the Master of the Rolls, who said there was no rule in law depriving the Emperor of the right to make the claim. The action did not seek to bring the King of Italy before the Courts, and the fact that Italy had also claimed money did not affect the position. On July 27 Mr. Justice Bennett gave judgment in favour of Haile Selassie, with costs. He granted stay of execution with a view to appeal.