Italian Ministers Meet

Evening Star, Issue 22147, 30 September 1935, Page 9

Italian Ministers Meet

ROME, September 28,

Signor Mussolini presided at a Council of Ministers. A communique states that it was decided that Italy was not going to leave the League until the League assumed full responsibility for measures against Italy.

The communique adds that the Italian policy has no immediate or remote aims likely to injure British interests. On the contrary, Italy is ready to negotiate an agreement harmonising with their legitimate interests in East Africa, and will avoid action extending the Abyssinian conflict to Europe. However, Italy could not take seriously the Emperor’s withdrawal of troops from the frontier, which had a strategic, not a pacific, object, and masked preparations in the interior for the fortifying of Ethiopian troops in stronger positions. Consequently the sailings of Italian divisions has been accelerated. The communique stresses the nation’s calmness and support for the Fascist regime, which will shortly show the world a thorough civil mobilisation unprecedented in history. Italy was not taking the initiative at Geneva, where her rights had been disregarded from the outset, THE NEXT STEPS PARIS, September 29. The Italian communique has shattered the remaining hopes that Signor Mussolini might at the eleventh hour offer to negotiate under the auspices of the League. The most optimistic do not believe that Britain will enter into direct negotiations, France’s next step will be decided by Cabinet next week, when it is believed M. Laval will accede to Captain Eden’s request to speed up the procedure, leading to an early reassembling of the Council. AN APPEAL TO BRITAIN ROME, September 29. The communique is interpreted as an appeal to Britain to reconsider her attitude towards Italy’s “rightful” claim. Commentators emphasise its friendliness to Britain and also the unusual procedure of pointing out to the “ British people, despite the efforts of the anti-Fascists to mislead them,” Italy’s readiness to* negotiate as regards British interests in East Africa. Nevertheless, the newspapers have resumed their attacks on Britain. IL DUCE INTERVIEWED EVERYTHING WEIGHED PARIS, September 28. In an interview with the Rome cor respondent of the 1 Petit Journal, Signor Mussolini stated: “1 have reflected well. I have weighed everything. . • . Two hundred thousand of our sons have sought honour going to East Africa to serve, if necessary to die. Who would bring them back before they have obtained the fruits of their heroism and sacrifice?” PROCEEDINGS AT GENEVA GENfi i r A, September 28. The Committee of Thirteen has instructed the League Secretariat to prepare an historical section of a report on the origin of the Abyssinian dispute, and “ if necessary go back to the Flood,” said Captain Eden. It is expected that the report will be complete by October 3, when the committee will consider recommendations. After a short public session the League Council adjourned. The Council has telegraphed Emperor Selassie appreciating his decision to withdraw his troops 20 miles from the frontier in order to avoid the possibility of untoward incidents. COMMITTEE DF THIRTEEN GENEVA, September 27. The Associated Press correspondent, says that Britain took the lead at the meeting of the Committee of Thirteen, advocating the adoption of the Emperor’s proposals. He states that neutral observers understand that Captain Eden does not regard the difficulties as insuperable. The experts on the committee will probably be limited to 10. Britain does not desire representation, fearing increasing Italian complaints that she is taking a preponderant share. The Council after defining the general lines of the dispute, will leave the specialists present to deal with the historical aspect. It is already manifest that a number of the Italian complaints are so well founded that the Council’s report will probably rebuke Abyssinia to some extent. THE ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS GENEVA, September 28. Although the League Assembly has adjourned, this course will enable a

No Change in Policy

Transports to be Speeded Up

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

recall at 24 hours’ notice. Geneva will be almost deserted, most of the delegates returning home this afternoon. Even members of the Council are leaving Geneva for a few days. Dr Benes, announcing the adjournment, stated that probably it would be unnecessary to reconvene the Assembly. He added that the session was historic, as the declaration of the' great Powers had brought hope to the League, after years of trial, of becoming a new moral, political, and even material force. The delegates were surprised when Dr Benes read a message from President Roosevelt supporting M. Burgin’s resolution in favour of a bilateral tariff and reduction of currency agreement. President Roosevelt declared that he particularly desired to reduce restrictions on international trade. TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS LONDON, September 28. The Associated Press Association’s special correspondent at Geneva says that probably nothing short of an act of war will produce a fresh development at Geneva for the next five or six days. The work of the Committee of Thirteen is being carried on by the second strings, but apart from a decision on the Emperor’s request for observers the Committee of Thirteen’s report is mostly technical, as commendations forming an annex are not contemplated until the return of the heads of delegations. The task necessarily is long. The Council also desires to avoid the appearance of haste in arriving at a judgment. POSITION IN ABYSSINIA e LONDON, September 28. Sir Pcrcival Phillips, the 1 Daily Telegraph’s ’ Addis Ababa correspondent, reports that the Emperor will refrain from a general mobilisation until it is absolutely certain that danger to his frontiers can no longer bo averted. He is waiting further advices from European observers. Only when they assure him that the last word has been said will ho call on every Abyssinian capable of bearing arms to rally to the defence of the country. He believes that, even if the entire weight of the Italian forces now assembled iu East Africa is thrown against him, he will be able, by skilfully carried out guerilla operations, to prevent a decisive result for the first three months. After that Italy is expected to collapse economically and financially under the weight of sanctions, which it is assumed will by then be applied. Air raids on Abyssinia will not win the war for Italy. Abyssinia is the only country in the world with a movable capital. The present one has no historic significance, and can be readily changed without impairing the natives’ morale. The principal sufferers in such raids would be the European community, which carried on tho bulk of the trade and commerce. SUEZ CANAL DIRECTORS TO MEET | ' LONDON, September 28. I The ‘ Daily Herald ’ discloses that a special, meeting of the Suez Canal diroc- | tors is being held in Paris next weekj end to discuss the situation with a view j to the possible application of sanctions. Britain will be represented by Earl Cromer and Sir lan Malcolm, and Prance by M. Doumergue, General Weygand, and others. Though the 1888 convention immunised the canal from a naval blockade and internationalised it, it also declared it open in peace time and war time without distinction of flag. Many international lawyers hold that Article 20 of the League Covenant, which abrogates all international conventions inconsistent with itself, could also .abrogate the canal convention. It is further assumed that if the canal were closed Italian supply ships could be prevented penetrating the Straits of Gibraltar on an alternative ' route round South Africa. BRITAIN’S NAVAL WEAKNESS LONDON, September 28. Sir Roger Keyes, in an article in the ‘ Sunday Times,’ emphasises Britain’s naval weaknesses, including worn-out ships which are unfit to meet those of other nations such as Germany, Japan, and Italy. Ho adds that, if Britain had a navy as strong as in the days before the war, there would be less anxiety throughout the world, and that the danger of war would be less. He urges tho Government to launch a defence loan and remedy the deficiencies of Imperial defence. BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LONDON, September 28. The Labour Party’s executive has arranged at the annual conference to debate Labour’s approval of the enforcement of sanctions. The debate will be-

gin on October 1, and two-days have been set aside for it. Lively developments are anticipated. If sanctions are approved Mr Lansbury is expected to offer his resignation. GREEK PRECAUTIONS LONDON, September 28. The Athens correspondent of 1 The Times ’ says that the Councils of National and Economic Defence have decided, in case of international affairs taking a more serious turn, to complete Greece’s war supplies and ensure an adequacy of raw materials. ABYSSINIAN MOBILISATION CANNOT MUCH LONGER BE DELAYED ADDIS ABABA, September 29. (Received September 30, at 10 a.ra.) The Emperor has telegraphed warning the Council that he cannot much longer delay mobilisation in face of the rapid and continuous reinforcements from Italy, and urging the Council speedily to take precautions against aggression. The time has come when he would be failing in his duty if he longer delayed the call to the army. PROBABLY COMMENCING NEXT WEEK LONDON, September 29. (Received September 30, at 2 p.m.) A copyright message to ‘ Tho Times ’ from Addis Ababa discloses that the Abyssinian delegation at Geneva telegraphed to Emperor Selassie confirming the previous opinion that war was imminent, upon which the Emperor ordered provincial mobilisation, confined to the frontiers, without disturbing the centra] provinces, A mobilisation centre is necessary because it takes 20 days for troops to take up support positions behind the northern frontier troops. The front line troops have been well placed for some time, but difficulties of supplies prevented the despatch until the last moment of troops to form a second line, which must be extremely strong. Moreover, general mobilisation is necessary before a levy on national forces is made. Therefore, when mobilisation is begun, probably next week, it will be carried out with the highest ceremony, it will be heralded by royal drums of lionskin, each of which is four men’s burden. The twin drums of Has Kassa, of Gondar, who is nearest the throne, will take up the summons, communicating it to the great single drums of tho provincial commanders, until every drum in Ethiopia is rolling in order to notify the warlike peasants in the remotest provinces who are still unaware that war is afoot and that their country’s hour has come. Major Dothee, the chief of the Belgian Military Mission, has resigned, and General Vergin, Selassie’s Swedish adviser, is departing on account of illness. EVADING A PITCHED BATTLE ABYSSINIAN STRATEGY LONDON, September 29. 'Received September 30, at 12.40 p.m.) It is reported from Addis Ababa that the Abyssinians are planning to concentrate 600 soldiers in every three square miles of threatened territory, thus depriving the Italians of the possibility of a pitched battle. Meanwhile 9,000 additional troops, comprising the Gran Sasso division under the Duke of Bergamo, a cousin of King Victor Emanuel, sailed from Taranto, bringing the last 10 days’ total to 10,000. The Italian Foreign Office spokesman, referring to Emperor Selassie’s threat to mobilise, pointed out that Abyssinia was always in a virtual state of mobilisation, the Abyssinians having for many years massed troops on the borders of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. An early outbreak of hostilities would favour'ltaly because the water holes were full. The Abyssinians were under-nourished; moreover, war would prevent a full harvest. COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TELEGRAM GENEVA, September 29. (Received September 30, at 10 a.m.) M. Litvinoff circulated the Emperor’s telegram to members of the Council, which will probably consider it tomorrow. Opinion is expressed that the appeal is intended to emphasise the Emperor’s earlier request to despatch League observers to Abyssinia. ANCIENT ABYSSINIAN CELEBRATION CURIOUS SCENES OH MASCAL DAY LONDON, September 29. (Received September 30, at 1.30 p.m.) The ‘ Sun-Herald ’ special Addis Ababa correspondent describes the scenes on Mascal Day, in which the Abyssinians celebrate the Biblical feast of tho First Fruits before their Emperor in the same manner as their forefathers celebrated it before the Queen of Sheba.

Mascal is the one day of free speech in Abyssinia, the Emperor becoming only a figurehead. On a special throne in Menolik Square ho sat for five hours to-day, while blood-lusting warriors in teeming rain came whooping before him, brandishing spears, swords, knives, and guns, and screcchingly telling him what they would do to their enemies. Some hurled insults at him for delaying war, but Haile Selassie sat imperturbably through it all. Simultaneously, thousands of war-

riors, including the Imperial Guard at the old palace, were tearing raw meat with sword-like teeth. To-morrow bigchested warriors will hand each other flowers and perform a Maypole dance in the presence of the Emperor, attended by a black court, the latter dressed in all manner of uniforms, from that of a Swedish Admiral to a Russian general. NEUTRAL OBSERVERS COMMITTEE’S DIFFICULTIES LONDON, September 29. (Received September 30, at 2 p.m.) The Associated Press Association’s Geneva special correspondent says that, owing to the necessity for considering adverse expert information regarding the difficulties of the terrain, the committee will not reach until October 3 a decision in reference to the despatch of neutral 'observers to Abyssinia, therefore the League will mark time for four days while Captain Eden goes to London. The British delegation cites categorical dates, beginning in February, in support of the rebuttal, of Italy’s assertion that she uhis not warned regarding the Abyssinian adventure.