Evening star., 1935-09-05
PAPAL PEACE PLEA
CHEERS SELASS|E
U. S. Cancellation of Oil
Deal, However, Irks Ethi-
opian Emperor.
Nv the Associated Press

BY the Associated FreSs
Adds ABABA, September 5.-Em'
peror Halle Selassie was encouraged
today by the possibility that Pope Plus
may be the agent Of peace If the
League Of Nations Council now meet.
ing in Geneva fails to find q solution
in the Italo-Ethiopian crisis.
He telegraphed the Pope his express
sion Of gratitude for the pontiff's
peace declaration in favor of Ethiopia
and his pronouncement opposing
Italy's aggression against a small and
weak nation.
The King OF Kings was made pessi-
mistic, however, by the action of Sec
retary of State Cordell Hull in Wash
ington in obtaining an agreement
from officials of the Standard Vacuum
Oil Co. not to claim oil and mineral
concessions in Ethiopia.
Italians Delighted.
News Of Hull's action was given to
the Emperor by Cornelius Van H. En-
CERT, United States charge d'affaires
when he delivered President Roose-
velt's thanks for Ethiopia's friend
ship to America.
The only happy persons in the cap
ital were the Italians. Luigi Vinci-
Gigliucci, italian Minister at Adds
Ababa, made no attempt to conceal
his delight.
Another painful surprise was the
Cancellation Commissions decision on
Uawual. Halle Selassie instructed the
Ethiopian delegation at Geneva tc
yield no territory, knowing that fur
ther partition of the country might
cost him his throne to one of the
many powerful princes of the empire
What the Emperor Sseems to fear
most is an Italian economic strangle-
hold, If not political hegemony. II
Is thought he might be willing tc
allow Italians to occupy portion Of
Northern Ethiopia as far as Adua in
order to permit Mussolini to avenge
the italian defeat there and save his
face. but further capitulation he be.
Ieves might prove fatal.
Meanwhile, as precaution against
failure at Geneva, the Emperor is dis
patching hosts of fresh troops to the
frontiers.
In view Of his warriors readiness
to leave their homes and families tc
fight under great handicaps against
Italy, the Emperor is promising his
tribesmen more land and less taxes
when they return.
Every train is laden with men, mu-
nitions and mules.
Fight for Modern Rifles.
Throwing aside the old blunder-
busses which served them at Adua,
the warriors fight among themselves
for possession of modern rifles, great
numbers of which are secretly enter
ing the country.
Italian consuls at Desire, Makale,
Debratabor, Harrar and Madji were
instructed to be prepared to leave
at moments notice. To avoid pos
sible attacks, the consuls will take
pre-selected strategic routes when
evacuating.
The capital took on a grimmer
aspect when the British Legation
began building bombproof dugouts,
machine gun emplacements and
trenches for the 125 Punjab soldiers
who will protect the British ma
tionals. The Punjabs, with four Brit
ish officers, are expected to arrive
tomorrow.
The Emperor has not yet granted
the Italians permission to bring in
colonial reinforcements to guard their
legation. Vinci-Gigliucci said there
still are 140 Italians in Ethiopia
besides SIS Dodecanese Greeks who are
Italian subjects.
The German government has or
dered the 300 Germans in Ethiopia
to complete inventories of their prop
erty-amounting to about $500, ,000-
in anticipation Of future indemnifica-
tion.