Imperial Valley press., 1935-08-13
BY 4. d. MCMILLAN

|
Copyright, 1895, by United Press.
PARIS. Aug. 13.-Premier Pierre
Laval today awaited a secret note
from Emperor Halle SelasSie of
Ethiopia which may provide a ba-
sis for French -BritiSh-Italian ne
gotiations opening Thursday.
In anticipation of the negotia-
tions, Laval asked DR.. Tecla Ha-
wariat, Ethiopian minister and
chief delegate TO the League of Ma
tions, to find out how far Halle Sc
/ laSSie was willing to go toward
meeting italian demands on his
| country.
The emperors reply is expected
before the allied negotiations start.
informally Thursday and formal
~ Friday-the last hope, it is be-
lieved, for peace.
Little hope was held here today
that the British italian ne
gotiations could ward off war.
Nor was there much hope that
Great Britain, despite its urgent
desire for peace. could offer any
plan that would appease Italy. An
thony Eden, chief British negotia-
tor. is expected here late today or
tonight.
French opinion is anxious. 1t is
foreseen that Laval may be called
upon during the three power nego-
tiations to choose between British
and italian friendship, for imme-
diate future.
Both Britain and Italy hold dip
, lomatic cards that must give the
French government pause. Britain's
separate naval agreement with
Germany is an indication of the
source in which she might seek
friendship if France went with
Italy. Mussolini may threaten
either to cancel the recent import
ant agreement for military COOP
Grafton, effected at a conference in
Rome of the French and Italian
| army chiefs of staff, and to revive
his policy of support for the revis-
ionist nations of Europe-those
which want their World war trea-
ties revised, notably Hungary and
Bulgaria.
The extent of possible estrange-
ment between Britain and Italy is
shown by reports reaching Paris.
Malta. the great British naval
base in the Mediterranean and one
of the most important ports of
call in the world, lies but As miles
below italian Sicily.
Reliable Maltese sources here say
there has been surprising activity
in Malta by the British administra-
ton. which has shipped large
quantities of gas masks to the is
land. It is said also that the Bri-
tish Mediterranean fleet has been
undertaking mining operations to
protect the island against sea at
tack.
Hence from all these factors it is
emerging more and more clearly
that the Italian Ethiopian crisis
goes far beyond Africa and involves
all Europe in a situation which
must bring far-reaching diplomatic
results if nothing else.
Adds ABABA, Ethiopia, Aug.
13. UP)-Emperor Halle Selassie I
was believed today to have given
Great Britain and France informal
warning, in his speech of yesterday,
not to be too generous in alloting
Italy concessions in their effort to
preserve peace.
His emphasis on the necessity for
maintaining his empires sovereign
ty was believed to have been aim
ed at Britain and France. in an
effort to avoid the possibility that
as a result of the imminent three
power negotiations at Paris, he
might be forced to reject last
minute proposal.
Halle Selassie appealed directly
TO Britain and France to preserve
peace and expressed the most sin
cere wish for their success. But he
added:
Ethiopia is concerned with safe
guarding order and peace within
the country and never will accept
anything that might injure it's in
dependence, lessen its sovereignty
or affect the prestige of its emper-
or, its army or its people"