Evening star., 1935-07-01
ENCLAND'S OFFER.
Of LAND IN AFRICA
}PURNED By ITALY.
Eden Says Il Duce Refuses
to Accept Territory for
Peace.
HOARE CITES NECESSITY
IN DEFENDING MOVE
London Proposed to Give Area in
British Somaliland as Out
let to Sea.
By the Associated Press.


Eden revealed to the House of Com
mons today that Premier Mussolini
of Italy had refused an offer by Great
Britain to give Ethiopia slice OF
British territory in an effort to ia
cilitate a final settlement of the dis
pute between Ethiopia and Italy.
The minister for League of Nations
relations, recently returned from con-
versations in Rome and Paris, was
heard by packed galleries.
Capt. Eden told the legislators he
did his utmost to interest II Duce
in the British proposal for peaceful
solution of the o-Ethiopiah dis
pute, and greatly regretted that his
suggestion did not recommend itself
to Mussolini.
When Eden had finished his reve-
lationS the government ran into
storm from opposition leaders who
demanded to know whether the House
of Commons would be consulted be-
fore British territory was ceded to
foreign powers.
Their answer, from Sir Samuel
Hoare, foreign secretary, was the tart
statement:
The Commons must trust the
executive department in these mat
ters. If it is not prepared to trust
the government the whole basis of
government is destroyed"
Sir Samuel informed the lcgisla-
tors that, from his point o. view,
Mussolini's rejection Of the British
suggestion had ended the matter. al
though he said the British govern
ment had not yet abandoned hope
that a satisfactory settlement of the
very dangerous situation would be
reached
He informed the House the urgency
of the present situation required the
government to take what steps it
thought fit in an effort tc reach set
tlement.
Replying to a question by George
Lansbury, Labor party member, as to
the purpose of mis- trip, Eden gave
q long explanation, but did not re-
veal what future course might be
taken in the Italo-Ethiopian affair.
Gives Access to Sea.
He explained that the British pro-
posal to Mussolini was that the Brit
fish government should offer a strip
of territory in British Somaliland to
Ethiopia, giving that nation access
to the sea. This, ne said, was in
tended to facilitate such territorial
and economic concessions from Ethi-
opia to Italy as might be involved
In an agreed settlement.
He declared the British govern
ment did not ask concessions in re-
turn for this arrangement except
grazing rights for their tribes in such
territory as might be ceded TO Italy.
Eden said he pointed out to Mus
solini that the suggestion was not
made lightly and that only the gravity
of the situation could justify the ces-
sion of British territory without an
equivalent return, bu, that Mllssolini
expressed himself as unable 60 ac-
cept the proposal as a basis Tor the
solution of the Ethiopian dis
pute.
He said that on his later trip to
Paris, he gave Premier Pierre Laval
of France an account of his converse
tions with Mussolini.
Eden explained he told Mussolini of
the British governments great con-
Germ over the turn events were taking
and that the attitude of the British
was not egotiStical nor dictated for
the British interests in Africa, but
was made because of membership in
the League of Nations.
The minister said the British for
eign policy was founded upon the
League and the government could not
remain Indifferent to events which
might profoundly affect the Leagues
future.
Details of Offer.
Eden said the kind of contribution
he was authorized to make to Musso-
lini as tentative suggestion was.
broadly speaking: ITO obtain a final
settlement of the Italo- Ethiopian dis
pute, his majesty's government would
be prepared to offer Ethiopia a strip
of territory In British Somaliland,
giving Ethiopia access to the sea-
He said he pointed out to Mussolini
that only through collective security
could, in the Judgment of the British,
peace be preserved and that only
through the League of Nations could
Great Britain play her full part in
Europe.
Turning to his conversations with
Premier Laval, Eden said he told the
French government leader the reasons
for the recent Anglo German naval
agreement and that Laval explained
with equal franknesS the view the
French government took of this agree
ment and its bearings on various Eu-
ropean problems. in the solution of
which the two governments are en-
gagged.