Evening star., 1935-09-03
British Lead in Move to Sc.
cure Open Pledge of Peace
or Refusal as Basis of
Session.
EDEN URGES LAVAL
TO JOIN IN REPORT
If Powers Decline to Promise
Ban on Hostilities Sanctions
by Other Nations May Be Con-
sidered, Diplomats at Geneva
Believe.
The Ethiopian Situation.

The Ethiopian Situation.
Diplomats at Geneva said the League
of Nations may ask Premier Mus
solini Of Italy and Emperor Halle
Selassie of Ethiopia TO promise not
to resort to war to settle their dis
pute.
Smaller nations were represented as
worried about their own future In
the League.
A New York broker, Leo Chertok, said
he was fully prepared" to exer-
else his option on a concession of
oil and mineral rights in Ethiopia.
Since the terms of the deal were
not made public, it was impossible
to determine whether this conces-
sion was in conflict with that signed
last week by Francis M. Rickett,
British promoter, also for oil and
mineral rights.
Great Britain moved faster in re-
inforcing her naval and military
forces at Malta, the nerve center
Of the Mediterranean. At the same
time, her diplomats sought to pre-
serve the peace Of Europe through
the machinery of the League.
Newspapers In Italy regarded the
'Rickett affair" aSkance and de-
manded Qualification Of the motive
for the concession.
Emperor Halle Selassie moved the
vanguard of force of 10000 picked
trbops toward the eastern frontier
as the black empire prepared for
eventualities.
British Take Lead.
BY the Associated Press
GENEVA, September 3.-Informed
diplomats said today the League of
Nations first step in preserving peace
in Ethiopia probably would be TO ask
Premier Mussolini and Emperor Halle
Selassie to pledge themselves not tc
resort to war to settle their dispute.
The League Council will meet on the
opening the formal discussions.
Diplomats indicated the British del
egation, which is coming to make
every effort to avert hostilities, is con-
sidering this way of initiating League
action on the problem.
Advocates of this step pointed out
that if either of the two leaders re-
fused such a pledge during the Coun-
ellis examination of the question tbs
situation could be changed immedi.
ately. It was conceivable, they indi-
Gated, that the Council could judge
real threat of war to exist and take
definite measures to safeguard peace
under article IL of the Leagues cove
nant. (Article II provides penalties
for violation of the covenant)
In such an event. these sources sug-
gested, refusal to pledge against re-
sorting to war could precipitate a.
situation which might involve consid-
Grafton Of sanctions.
Eden Sees Laval.
Anthony Eden, chief of the British
delegation, conferred with Premier
Laval this morning and urged him
to join him as reported to the council
on the Paris attempt to reach peace
full solution of the conflict, reminding
the League that the offer made Mus
S0llnl at ParlS remains Open'
A British spokesman said:
I'VE are still hoping that something
along the lines of the Paris offer will
be found acceptable to Italy"
A usually well-informed source said
Eden's report for the council is framed
at present along these lines:
/. It states that the Ethiopians have
let it be known they are ready to ac-
cept foreign assistance which would
be carried out under the aegis Of the
League.
2. The Ethiopians would make a
definite appeal to the League for for
eign help, which could be given In
principle by Italy, Great Britain and
France. Actually, the assistance would
be given principally by Italy, since
Great Britain is not interested In
Ethiopia except at Lake Tsana and
Frances sole interest would seem to be
the railroad between Djibouti and
Adds Ababa
g. Economic and financial develop
ment would affect mining, roads. rail-
ways, public works and general finan-
cial reconstruction.
4. Complete measures would be
(See ETHIOPIA. page -