Evening star., 1935-09-19
London Keeps
Aerial Plan
Secret.
HOPE In GENEVA
SCHEME FADES
Statement of Mus.
solini Regarded
as Defiance.
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press,
LONDON, September 19.-An au-
thoritative source asserted today that
the British air ministry was building
up the royal air forces at strategic
Mediterranean stations for any eventu-
ality which might arise from the
present dispute between Italy and
Ethiopia.
At the same time the British ad-
miralty list showed that the ad-
miralty, having virtually depleted its
home fleet to reinforce naval stations
in the Mediterranean, now is calling
on its American West Indies fleet for
additional support.
In contrast with these naval ma
neuvers. which now have been made
more or less public, the heavy air
relnforcements likewise officially
characterized as precautionary - will
be kept secret.
Details to Be Withheld.
concentration of fighting. bomb
ing and observation planes, hinted as
having taken place in the vicinity of
the Suez Canal, Egypt, Gibraltar and
the Sudan, is expected to be referred
to in general terms in a forthcoming
announcement by the air ministry
This announcement, however, is not
expected to give specific details.
British strategists explained the ele-
ment of uncertainty is most important
in the present situation and said there
was no disposition to weaken the
British position by premature dis
closures.
One informed source said the
present military policy of Great
Britain is to keep the Italians guessing
until it becomes perfectly clear what
is going to happen in the Mediter-
ranean,s potential powder keg.
This source explained that ship
movements cannot be kept a secret
long because the very movement Of
ships en- masse cannot be disguised.
With airplanes, however, it is another
story.
Movements Significant.
Certain diplomats said they re-
garded the airplane movements as of
the greatest significance, not as a
threat to Italy, but as a most distinct
evidence that Great Britain is pre-
pared to protect her interests
ANY one minimizing the possibilities
of the present situation" said one
authority, lis simply binding himself
to the real facts"
The foreign Office, meanwhile, kept
in close contact with Geneva, awaiting
official indication as to how Premier
MusSolini would regard the League
compromise plan. There was no i'm
mediate indication of optimism in
Geneva, although in some quarters q
faint hope that the situation would
shortly ease was expressed.
In an interview by c. Ward Price
in the London Daily Mail, Premier
Mussolini was quoted as saying: "It
looks as if the committee Of the League
of Nations thinks I am a collector oi
deserts" The reference came as an
indication of MuSsolinis rejection OF
the committee report which was under
stood to include an offer to Italy OF
the Ethiopian provinces of Danakil
and Ogaden.
II Duce was quoted as saying:
1T would be far better if the COM
mittee had addressed itself to the
central fact of the Ethiopian situation
which is that there is no such thing
as an Ethiopian nation.
Sees Benefit in Conquest.
What makes up the nation called
Ethiopia is a dominant race of Am
haras ruling over the tribes which
they have conquered and reduced to
slavery, almost exterminating them
in the process.
These depressed subject races of
Ethiopia would be far better of under
Italian rule"
II Duce told his interviewer: 1.-THE
suggestion apparently is made that
all the 100000 Italian troops in East
Africa should be brought home and
told they were sent out there for an
excursion trip. That certainly will
not be done in any case"