Evening star., 1935-12-21
League Council Summons to
Discuss Mutual Defense
Measures Is Mentioned.
Replies Are Encouraging.
TANKS ARE MUSTERED
ON EGYPTIAN FRONTIER
Chamberlain Urges Return to
Sanctions Policy, Denying Peace
Proposals Will Be Revived.
New Penalty Pressure Awaits
Support From Other Powers
BACKGROUND

Break bettGeen Britain and Italy
trould be tollotUed by rapid mill
tary action in Mediterranean zone.
British naval strength concen-
trdted at Gibraltar and Suez;
troops, tanks and aircraft standing
By near Egyptian-Ltbyan border.
italian submarines and aircraft
also in readiness for action, strong
force of latter facing British on
same border. Meanwhile, League
economic pressure continues against
Italy, but Nth Gil embargo still in
abeyance; yesterday Britain sought
assurances from League nations on
Mediterranean that they Mould
cooperate in military enforcement
OF League program if necessary.
(Copylisht, 1885. by the Associated Press)
LONDON, December 21-The Brit
ish government was stated by reliable
source today to be considering further
precautionary measures against the
possibility of a warlike act on the part
of Premier MuSsolini of Italy because
of Great Britain's determination to
reinforce sanctions against Italy.
Meeting of the Council of the League
Of Nations to discuss the question of
mutual defenseS against an act OF
desperation on the part of Italy was
mentioned in government circles, but
was not confirmed officially.
Support Indication Sought.
In government Offices, however. 1t
was authoritatively confirmed that
steps have been taken to see what sup
port by other nations could be mobi-
lized in the event of warlike move.
It was said that the replies to in
quiries thus far had been encouraging.
Thus far the British government has
confined its approach to Mediter-
ranean powers.
A responsible source said the action
had been taken "as necessary matter
Of precaution" and that there was no
reason to suppose that any power ap-
preached would fall short of its OBJ
legations under Article XVI-the sane
tions article-of the League Covenant.
A British officer in Cairo informed
that it would require "a bigger and
more mobile force than the italian
army in Eritrea to penetrate Egypt
from Libya."
Harrying Defense Planned.
Informed military sources in Egypt
said that in the event of an attack
from Libya, Great Britain would not
otta,oot a eariouS dafopea of tho EOvp
tian border, but would adopt marrying
tactics with light tanks and airplanes
and would depend upon the vast desert
stretching from Libya to the Nile to
defeat the invader.
For some time past, said the advices
from Cairo, Great Britain has been
mastering tanks in the vicinity Of
Matruh near the border. However
Great Britain has not made a large
concentration of either men or equip
ment there. The force of British
troops has been estimated at not more
than 5000 men.
The governments action in taking
precautionary measures follows the
pointed statement made by Sir Samuel
Hoare, the resigned foreign secretary,
who stressed in the House of Com
mons that only Great Britain was
ready to act in the Mediterranean
against sudden act by Italy and
that no other powers had taken pre-
cautions.
British Steps a Secret.
What steps the British were taking
remained a secret, although there
were hints that defenses were being
frightened up farther in the vicinity
of Egypt, where the danger. Of attack
was felt to be greatest.
The attack fears appear to be based
on belief in some quarters that
Mussolini eventually will have to sue
for peace on terms offered by the
League Of Nations or else try some
act of desperation.
Lord Smell gave voice to this belief
IN the debate Thursday in the House
OF Lords when he said: Having en-
barked 250,000 men on an African
crusade, he (MuSsolini) would rather |
yield to an overwhelming force than
60 to a. lingering death or risk another
Aduwa. ct was at Aduwa in 1896
that the Ethiopians slaughtered an
invading Italian army.)
"Mussolini might feel that if sane
tions were to be imposed which would
be decisive, causing his defeat, he
would prefer to go down fighting
against us and France or against us
alone rather than ultimately to re-
treat"
Neville Chamberlain, chancellor of
the exchequer, who has been men,
toned widely as possible new foreign
secretary, expounding the policy of
application of war penalties against
italy. told Conservative party workers
at Birmingham:
"I trust the nations of the League
will show that they are prepared to
make themselves resist any attack
(See LONDON, Page 81