Evening star., 1935-09-14
French, British
Embassies
Guarded.
LAVAL SPEECH
REACTION SEEN
Mussolini Believes
Amity of France
Unshattered.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ROME, September 14.-The Italian
cabinet, meeting with Premier Mus
solini, refused today to accept any
compromise solution of Italy's quar-
rel with Ethiopia.
The cabinet also examined in what
cases Italy's remaining in the League
of Nations might be rendered i'm
possible" it was announced.
II Duce, who holds eight cabinet
portfolios himself, told his colleagues
that Italy's military preparations IN
East Africa are proceeding with
greater intensity and that Libya, on
the western border of Egypt, has been
reinforced.
Can Answer ANY Threat.
Italy now lis able to answer any
threat, from whatever direction 1t may
come" he declared.
As the cabinet met, both the French
and British Embassies were under
strong guard. The Associated Press
correspondent counted 20 uniformed
policemen at the French Embassy ana
30 at the British.
Although the cabinet declared the
speeches of Premier Laval OF France
and Sir Samuel Hoare, the British
foreign secretary. were received with
the greatest calm, the embassies were
guarded to prevent any demonstra-
tions.
However, Mussolini told the cabinet
that Italy's colonial conflict would not
shatter her friendship with France.
The speeches of Laval and Sir
Samuel before the League OF Nations
Assembly could not have been other
than what they were because OF the
Anglo French position in regard to
the League pact, II Duce said.
Will Strengthen Friendship.
Nevertheless the cabinet declared
italy intends to develop and fortify
Italo-French friendship not only in
the interest of the two countries but
also in that European collaboration
which cannot be shattered by a con-
fict of colonial character or by the
use of sanctions, which never were
specified and never applied in the
most serious previous controversy be-
tween members of the League"
The cabinet declared that "all the
forces of foreign anti-Fascism" have
gathered about the Ethiopian contro-
versy and therefore it felt duty bound
to "reconfirm in the most explicit
manner that the Italo-E Ethiopian
problem does not admit Of compro-
mise solution after the huge effort
and sacrifices supported by Italy, and
after the irrefutable Recommendation
contained in the Italian memorandum
presented at Geneva"
At the conclusion of its session the
cabinet sent telegram Of praise to
Gen. Emilio De Bono, high commits
sioner of Eritrea and Somaliland and
commander of the Italian forces in
East Africa.
Abandonment Seen.
The guard was thrown about the
Embassy because a large proportion OF
the Italian population interpreted the
speech of Premier Laval of France
before the League of Nations assembly
yesterday as an abandonment of Italy.
Police feared a demonstration might
be made before the embassy and de-
termined to prevent any such occur
renee.
Twenty carabinieri and additional
policemen were station in the streets
nearby but there was not the slight
est sign of any gathering of the popu-
lace.
In semi-oficial quarters Lavals
speech on the Italo- Ethiopian question
was accepted as tacit victory for
Italy.
The Geneva speech of Premier
Laval of France was accepted in Rome
as a tacit victory for Italy.
It was so interpreted because 1t
failed to inveigh against Italys claims
In East Africa. The press also ana
lived the address as undamaging to
italy.
Commentators Disappointed.
Disappointed that Laval had not
completely thrown overheard Sir
Samuels patent request for French
solidarity with Great Britain, the
Italian commentators, nevertheless,
found nothing in the French pre-
mier's words which could persuade
Italy to believe that France had de-
cided to follow what was described
as Britain's "hard-headed policy in
regard to the Italo-E Ethiopian dispute.
The assertion of an official spokes-
man that the Laval speech would not
change the Premier's plans gained
support as four transports prepared
to depart from Naples with troops
and materials for East Africa. They
will sail with more than 5000 officers
and men over the week end.