ITALY’S INDIFFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22146, 28 September 1935, Page 17

ITALY’S INDIFFERENCE

Attitude to League’s Endeavours i \ Fullest Liberty of Action Preserved . Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, September 27. The Rome correspondent of ‘ The Times’ says: “The newspapers still stress the significance of the Italian delegation’s abstention from yesterday’s Council sitting. They declare it is a logical consequence of the attitude adopted by the Italian Government on September 4. ‘From that day,’ says the ‘Giornalo D’ltalia,’ ‘ltaly has shown that it is impossible to find within the League a solution to a conflict which exceeds its limits. Italy therefore preserves the fullest liberty of action, which she will use according to her own interests.’ ”/ The Geneva correspondent of ‘ The Times’ says: “The Italian delegates declare that so far they have not received new instructions. The delegation, it was added, would watch the League’s procedure ‘ with greatest indifference,’ convinced of the essential futility of attempting to treat Abyssinia as a civilised .nation.”

ARMS FDR ABYSSINIA EMBARGO DEFINITELY BROKEN LONDON, September 27. The Addis Ababa correspondent ,of ‘The Times,’ in a copyright message, says: ‘ “ It is now clear that the arms embargo has been definitely oroken, and the Government expects a shipment of arms from Belgium at any time. This cargo, which was banned in July, was removed from a ship lying at Antwerp, although the Emperor had already paid for it. The shipment includes 1,700 rifles, 2,300 carbines, and 7,000,000,000,000 rounds of ammunition worth £25,000. A number of Swiss anti-air-craft guns has reached Addis Ababa, and Swiss instructors are teaching native gunners how to use the guns.’ GENERAL MOBILISATION DENIED LONDON, September 27. A circumstantial mid-week tory from Addis Ababa of general mobilisation by Abyssinia was instantly officially denied. The special correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ this morning reveals that it was not general in the interior, but it was partial yesterday on limited frontiers facing Italian, territory, and it was believed to S© impending on the southwest areas of Gore and Map, but in the last hour an official despatch from Addis Ababa repeats the categorical denial that general mobilisation has been decreed.” WAR RISK INSURANCE LONDON, September 27. The Chamber of Shipping has advised British shipowners to include a war risk clause in all new contracts. AUSTRALIA’S PDLICY WILL STAND BY BRITAIN . CANBERRA, September 27. In the House of Representatives today the Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) yielded to, pressure by the Labour Opposition and to a section of the Australian Press to state how far the'Commonwealth had been committed by Britain for a preservation of peace. In the course of his statement he said: “ When I was in London the British Government took the representatives of the Dominion fully into its confidence in regard to the position in Europe. I came out of those conferences with the firm conviction that I could trust the British Government to do everything that even members of the Labour Party would do for the preservation of peace. Appreciating the bona fides of the British Government, I gave the assurance that I would guarantee that the Government and people of Australia would stand by them right up to the hilt.—(Ministerial cheers.) That is the only thing to which Australia is committed. ’ ' '

THE LEAGUE ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL TO ADJOURN BUT NOT DISSOLVE GENEVA, September 27. (Received September 28, at TO a.m.) The Bureau of the Assembly decided to propose to the full meeting to-mor-row that the Assembly should not be dissolved, but adjourned, enabling it to be called upon at 24 hours’ notice in the event of necessity. COMMITTEE -OF THIRTEEN REQUEST FOR FRONTIER OBSERVERS DISCUSSED LONDON, September 27. (Received September 28, at 10 a.m.) The Associated Press Association’s special Geneva correspondent says the first meeting of the Committee of Thirteen dealt solely with the Emperor’s request for l frontier observers, which met with a good deal of support, but some opposition on practical grounds. It was decided to telegraph the Emperor acknowledging the request, decision on which was postponed pending receipt of expert advice. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS (British Official Wireless.) , RUGBY, September 27. (Received September 28, at noon.) The League Council’s Committee of Thirteen has elected as its Senor Madariaga, who is also chairman of the Conciliation Committee of Five. The Committee discussed the request of the Ethiopian Government for the despatch of League Commissioners to observe conditions on the frontiers and to fix responsibility for any act of aggression. It, decided'to accept the request in principle, but the practical possibilities have been referred to a committee of experts drawn from the British, French, and Spanish delegations. The Committee of Thirteen also undertook a preliminary discussion on the form of the report and the nature of the recommendations which it is to submit to the Council under paragraph 4 of article 15 of the Covenant. M. Laval left for Paris after the first meeting of the Committee of Thirteen. ’ Captain Eden is returning to London to-morrow night, or on Sunday, for a few days.

AGGRESSION IN EUROPE

BRITAIN’S REPLY TO FRANCE , LONDON, September 27. (Received September 28 at 11.30 a.m.) The ‘ Daily Mail ’ understands that the British reply to France will elaborate passages in Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech. It will reiterate the British Government’s intention to take the same line should there bo an act of aggression in Europe as was being followed in the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia.

[A previous message read as follows: “It is understood that the French Government, through its ambassador in London, inquired from the Foreign Office whether it may be assumed that the firm attitude now being taken by Britain at Geneva in regard to a case of aggression will henceforward also be adopted in Europe, especially in the event of an act of aggression being committed against Austria. A reply will be awaited with interest elsewhere than in Paris and London, but it is not difficult to deduce this from Sir. Samuel Hoaro’s speech.”J