Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-22
Italian-League
Rupture Is
Denied.
BRITISH ARE
DISAPPOINTED
First Recognition
of Geneva Act
Is Seen.

BY the ASSOcldleQ HTeSS.
GENEVA, September 2l.-Prenier
Mussolini of Italy is disposed TO ne
gotiate the acute Ethiopian problem,
an italian spokesman said tonight,
even though his cabinet today tn ned
down the peace plan of League of
Nations committee.
Insisting there is no rupture be-
tween Italy and the League, the
spokesman emphasized the signifi-
canoe of this phrase in today's Italian
communique; That the League Ccm-
mittee's recommendations do not
offer minimum basis for a conclu-
sive realization which finally and eff
fectively would take into account
1taly's vital rights and interests.
The Leagues big five committee,
which drafted the peace proposal, met
tonight to discuss Italy's rejection.
Unable to determine the exact mean
ing of II Duce's move, however, the
committee adjourned after an hour S
conference with the announcement 1t
would continue to await Italy's official
reply.
COmmunique Noted.
A eommunique was published by
the committee to the effect that it met
and took note of the communique
given to the press given by the Italian
government. 1t added: In order to
gain the exact idea of the significance
of this communique the committee
decided to await the official reply Of
the Italian government and what
ever observations might accompany it
The impression prevailed in italian
circles that II Duce had given the
League another chance to ask him:
What is your minimum His chief
delegate, Baron Pompeo Aloisi, doubt
less will make this new opportunity
clear to the Councils flye-power COM
mittee, it was said.
One member of the Italian delega-
ton pointed out that this constitutes
the first official recognition Of the
Leagues mediation by the Italian gov
eminent" and said the cabinet action
implies revised proposals would receive
the most friendly consideration by
Italy.
British Disappointed.
While the British reaction to the
italian reply was one of disappoint-
ment, the British, like the others,
seemed impressed by the moderate
tone Of non-acceptance as compared
to the fiat mo compromise" state
ment that came out of last weeks
cabinet meeting in Rome.
League officials pointed out that
Mussolini's ''non-acceptance" of the
committees project does not involve
any clear rupture with the League
because the Ethiopian crisis still is
in the conciliation stage.
II Cancellation is officially declared
impossible, the italian dictator may
find himself facing an international
policeman, they added.
That means. the officials explained.
that the crisis is not yet being
handled by any definite article of
the League Covenant. If the powers
should decide that Cancellation Is per-
fectly hopeless the League Council
must decide whether to proceed under
Article Is, presenting to both Italy
and Ethiopia a definite series of rec
concentrations.
Sanctions Await War.
These recommendations may not be
the same as those contained in the
existing project of the Committee of
Five, which was described as the
framework of a plan" for technical
assistance to Ethiopia in admiuistra-
tive, economic, financial and social
reform.
Should this report be accepted
unanimously by the Council and re-
jected by Italy, and should Italy re-
sort to war in defiance of the Coun-
ellis recommendations, then, and then
only. would the question of sanctions
arise.
Under the Covenant Italy would
be enjoined from resorting to hostil-
CSee GENEVA, Page 81