The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-08-22
British Cabinet In
Serious Session
CONTINUED from Page /,

today to consider its policy in the
Italian Ethiopian dispute. -.
Its members were grave and
anxious as they walked into His
toric No. 10 Downing street for
their meeting, mindful they were
dealing not alone with the threat
OF war in East Africa but with
q potential world crisis.
Events of the last few days had
made 1t plain that any decisions
Great Britain might make would
eb factors in determining whether
the Italian Ethiopian dispute was
to spread, inevitably IL slowly, to
Europe and perhaps from contin-
ent to continent.
: A British French-Italian con-
ference at Paris that was regarded
as the last hope for peace between
Italy and Ethiopia collapsed Sum
day in utter failure. ....'
Ministers Recalled
Ministers were recalled urgent
" from their vacations al over
the British Isles and Europe.
AS they met today, passing little
groups of idlers in Downing Street
whose presence Is always q sign OF
crisis, the situation was as follows:
/. It's % members, comprising
conservatives, national laborites
and national liberals, with con-
servatives predominant, have been
divided among themselves as to the
best policy in the national and the
British empire interest. s.
2. A cabinet subcommittee on
foreign affairs decided at a steer
ing meeting yesterday that the
first necessity was to reach agree
ment among themselves and adopt
q definite program Of action.
3. There was general agreement
that Great Britain, in the Italian
Ethiopian dispute, must be pre-
pared fully to honor It's obligations
under the League of Nations COW
enant. One of the obligations Is to
denounce, and to consider penal
action against, a nation that at
tacks another league member.
4. Leaders OF the main labor
and liberal parties, comprising the
opposition to the government IN
parliament, had assured the cab
met that II would be supported In
a decision to uphold the League OF
Nations covenant.
: s. 1t seemed agreed that Great
Britain must not be put in the
position of taking isolated action
against italy in the interest OF
peace because the implications
were too serious. 1t was symptom
attic that In diplomatic circles
there was speculation on the pos.
sibility Of war between Britain and
Italy-an idea that would have
been laughed at few days ago.
6. The government Is deter
mined to avoid any such possible
ity. 1t seeks to agree on a course
Of action with caution, and In
whose pursuit caution and deliber-
alton will be the first essential. 1t
seeks the support not only Of
France, reluctant to antagonize
Italy, but Of the United States,
which is not q member or the
league.
Z. It is prepared to act, in con.
cert with other nations, under the
league covenant and the BRAND
kellogg anti-war pact, pledging ma.
tons to renounce war as an In
strument of national policy. The
United States, Italy and Ethiopia
are signatories.
1t was indicated that the cabinet
felt 1t must be prepared to take
the lead--though not to act alone
i'm advocating a Arm policy OF
non assistance to an aggressor I'M
der the covenant In event that Italy
invaded Ethiopia.
The cabinet meeting ended at
4:30 p. m.
World War Threat
Rome, Aug. 22-(UP)--The in
fluentiai Fascist newspaper Giorr
male D'Italia warned Britain. in
scathing editorial today that there
is grave threat of world war
over the Ethiopian dispute.
"The British Press in claiming
sanctions against Italy," the edi-
torial said, fare asking for war.
This war should extend from AZ
RIGA to Europe and from Europe
to the whole world.
'.Such a world war would be de-
terminedly carried out by u vir-
lie people conscious of right and
conscious that they are defending
their rights and honor before his
tory"
The paper said its remarks were
not threats but merely replies to