Evening star., 1935-10-21
Laval Awaiting
British Cue
to Act.
PREMIER GETS
PEOPLES VOTE
Terms Acceptable
Geneva Are
Sought.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, October 21.-Premier Pierre
Laval was reported in unofficial circles
today to have received suggestions
from Premier Mussolini for settlement
of the Ethiopian War
The premier was said by these
sources to be awaiting the debate in
the British Parliament this week be-
fore submitting the suggestions to Lon
don.
Oficials declined to comment on
the report, although they said "the
greatest problem now seems to be to
get Emperor Halle SelaSsie to accept
Italian terms"
Laval held a virtual vote Of conf
dence to proceed in his troublesome
task of finding a way to "legalize"
Italian occupation of Northern Ethi-
opia and to give Mussolini benefits
In the rest of the empire.
The premier, after wining two seats
and a double victory in the senatorial
elections Sunday, enjoyed a sheaf Of
editorial congratulations on his peace
seeking methods.
Role of Mediator Hard.
A member Of his official staff, how
ever, said he failed to see how that
would rescue Ethiopia from Italy's
campaign of conquest.
This authority conceded that Lavals
role as mediator was hard one, par
ticularly If he submitted to London
q suggestion for ar Italian mandate
over the Ethiopian lowlands, with eco
nomic and administrative control over
the rest of the country.
Officials generally agreed that the
diplomatic atmosphere had been
cleared of distrust for 10 days Of ne
gotiations before the deadline set by
the League Of Nations for economic
and financial sanctions.
Yet they considered Mussolini cer-
tain to refuse to relinquish any oc-
cupied territory. Their quandry was
how to let him keep it and to save
the Leagues face after calling the
offensive on Ethiopia a violation Of
the covenant.
1.-The danger for Europe is not yet
over" said even the moderate press,
although the French felt they had
averted q blockade or military sane
tions, which might mean war.
Thus far Laval has been almost
exclusively occupied with keeping Italy
and Britain close enough together so
that the French could count on help
from both in the event of trouble
with Germany.
One way to keep the war from
spreading would be to let the League
machinery run down slowly while
Mussolini and Emperor Halle Selassie
came to terms.
That would depend on how strongly
London pushed sanctions, in the opin-
ion of the French.
British Satisfaction Feared.
Anxiety, meanwhile, was expressed
widely lest British satisfaction at
Laval's Interpretation of the mutual
support provision of the League cove
nant meant London intended to use
it as precedent for slow action in
case France were attacked some day
ny GcIuldIy.
France long has sought an inter-
probation of the Locarno pacts guar
antees of assistance as automatic in
the hope that the British air force
would fly to Frances aid in the event
Of German attack.
Now there was some uneasiness in
high quarters lest Britain would wait
for the League to decide whether
French precautionary mobilization,
for instance. would constitute a prov
ocation.
This was reliably reported to be
Frances attitude toward the massing
Of the British fleet in the Mediter-
ranean, as expressed in Laval's note
to London in reply to a request for
assurance Of French aid in the event
the British fleet was attacked by
Italy.