MISSIONARIES BANNED

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 458, 16 June 1937, Page 6

MISSIONARIES BANNED

ABYSSINIAN SITUATION Italy’s Reply To Britain (British Official Wireless). Rugfey, Jiine 15. Questioned about the expulsion Of British missionaries from Abyssinia the Foreign Secretary, ,Mr R. A. Eden, sai'd that His Majesty’s Government had been in prolonged negotiation with the Italian Govel'nment with a view', to securing permission for the missionaries to return to Abyssinia and continue their work there or for their places to be t.aken by substitutes. “I regret that the negotiations have not proved successful,” said Mr Eden. “The Italian Government has now informed His Majesty’s ambassador at Rome that it is its intention not 'to entrust to .any foreigner, no matter what his religious die nomination, the task of setting up any kind of school in Abyssinia. It can be seen, therefore, that the decision applies to all foreign missons irrespective of their nationality. The Italian Government, has, however, stated that if British religious missions desire to carry out humanitarian and welfare work in Abyssinia, apart from any scholastic activity, a request in that sense might in certain conditions be considered.

“His Majesty’s Government regrets this decision,” continued Mr Eden. “It considers that it is a wrong principle on which to proceed. It is not the practice of His Majesty’s Government to allow the question of nationality to affect missionary work in British administered territories but as the iialian Government has taken this decision His Majesty’s' Government must reserve the right to consider faking similar action in territories under British administration.”