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ABYSSINIA ÄND RHINELAND
.-V. ANGLOí FÍÍESCH CRISIS
PENDING
MUSSOLINI MORE BELLICOSE
LEAGUE FACING GREATEST
PROBLEM
TWO ALTERNATIVES
WAR OR CAPITULATE TO
MUSSOLINI
London, April 15.
The British and French views re-
garding Abyssinia and the Rhine
land are so out of harmony that
even official circles, in France feel a
grave Anglo-French crisis is pend-
ing.
Much of the anti-British feeling
in France is attributed to Mussolini
spending large sums on propaganda
to intensify the intensity which rises
whenever the League is reaching a
critical Italo-Abyssinian decision.
French feeling has nót previously
attained such an anti-British pitch,
and Mr. Anthony Eden is* being con-
sistently attacked.
A message from Rome says if the
Committee of Thirteen condemns the
Italian use of .gas Italy will refuse
to discuss peace under the auspices
of the League and. may even with-
draw from the League. .
Proceedings, at Geneva so far have
only served to emphasise the com-
plicated difficulties of the European
situation without as yet holding any
promise of ; solution.
As a result of the ..firm attitude
adopted by Mr. Eden the Commit-
tee of Thirteen, which is seeking to
bring about peace between Italy and
Abyssinia has adjourned only till
Thursday, but no will to peace has
yet appeared from Italy. On the
contrary Mussolini is more bellicose
than ever and declares the war wili
be continued until Abyssinia is an-
nihilated.
[The position is the League is now
facing the greatest problems of Hs
existence. The alternatives, which
are both unpleasant, are either cap
i tu lat ion to the will of a dictator
ship or the enforcement of the ban
against Italy in order to .prevent he?
reaping the reward of her aggres-
sion. The first involves admission
that the collective . system cannot
prevail against a powerful and de-
termined aggressor while the second
means positive action leading to war
in the Mediterranean.
The discussions between the Four
Locarno Powers (Britain, France,
Belgium and Italy) have been ad-
journed until May 15th. It was de-
cided it is desirable to completely
explore ail opportunities of conciliar
tion and at the same time it was
noted Germany has not made con-
tribution to the re-establishment of
the confidence indispensable for thc
negotiation of new treaties.
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