The Washington times., 1935-09-30
DEFERS DECREE
WAITING ON
LEAGUE
Drums Have Sounded
But Proclamation
Is Withheld
(Continued from Page -

JH6 1dCeSC QeVelOpIleQGS Ill GIle
1talo-Ethiopian crisis.
The King received detailed re-
port of League of Nations activi.
ties in the crisis and of the shift
of Great Britain's fighting forces.
Holds Strategic Points
With the same secretiveness
and the same display of quiet
power with which the British air
and naval fleets were concentrated
at Gibraltar 10 days ago, these
fighting forces now have been con-
centrated at Alexandria, guarding
the northern entrance to the Suez
Canal, and at Alden, guarding the
southern entrance to the Red Sea.
A large force remained at
Gibraltar, and it could readily be
seen Britain is in "a position to
close either or both the Straits Of
Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, as
we'll as block entrance to the Red
Sea from the south, in the event
the League should adopt military
sanctions against Italy.
The concentration of the British
fleet in the Suez Canal and the
Red Sea area was gradual. Indi-
vidual arrivals of ships were noted
last week. Today, however, found
the greatest fleet ever assembled
in Egyptian waters maneuvering
ready for action, off Alexandria,
the Nile Delta, and the entrance
to the all-important SueZ Canal,
through which italy must pour
her strength into her colonies to
fight Ethiopia.
All Concentrated
The great battleship Hood, the
worlds largest, and the big Re-
nown, only slightly less powerful.
headed the list Of war vessels at
Alexandria.
In addition, there were scores of
smaller vessels, including two air
craft carriers loaded to the limit
with fighting planes. Also there
were troop ships with hundreds of
marines.
Although strictest silence was
maintained in naval quarters
as was the case two weeks ago
when all Italy became alarmed
at the Gibraltar concentrations
London observers noted the move
was in accordance with the
openly avowed British policy of
preparedness for all eventualities.
The British, particularly, are
anxious to guard such key points
as Alexandria or Alden. It would
be impossible for Italy to get to
her colonies without going through
the canal unless she went around
southern Africa, and to do this
she would have to go through
Gibraltar. Thus Britain guarded
points sorely vital to Italy in
case Of war in east Africa.
Meant Every Word
There was hardly a single port
in the Suez-Red Sea area without
a British warship or a mass of
them, and the larger ports all
had royal air force planes and
marines in addition.
The great naval movements
were significant in showing Italy
and the rest of the world that
Britain meant what she said
when she declared her deter
mination to support the League
covenant in an effort to avert or
localize the ItaloEthiopian con-
flict.
The cabinet and the two major
British political parties are due
to discuss the problem of penal
ties against an aggressor nation
the Labor party at its annual
conference at Brighton; the cab
met on Wednesday when it re-
ceives the full report from Capt.
Anthony Eden, Geneva repre-
sentative, and the Conservative
party at its annual conference
Thursday at Bournemouth.
Baldwin'S Speech
The high spot will be Premier
Stanley Baldwin's speech at
Bournemouth, Friday, when he
will restate British policy in the
light of any decisions reached
by the cabinet, and will fore
shadow considerable strengthen
ing of Britain's defensive forces.
Although improved, Anglo
italian relations have gratified
London, semiofficial circles, an
Swering Premier Mussolini's COM
munique of Saturday, insists that
Britain will not be DETECTED from
her policy either by offers of
agreements protecting British
African interests or proposals
aiming to localize the Ethiopian
conflict.
High British quarters have ex-
pressed deep irritation at the
words of MusSolini in his cabinet
communique of Saturday. extend
Ing an offer to London to tran
quillize" British interests in
Africa.
There are no such British inter
eStS in Ethiopia, it was pointed
out, and such an offer was re-
garded as much beside the point.
Charges Resented
The East African affair never
has been question of a clash be-
tween Britain and Italy, it was
pointed out, but rather has re-
suited in a conflict between italy
and the League. This was made
clear, according to official British
circles, long before the present