The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-23
Laval Was Hopeful

A&V&h WEB AhVpCAUA
 Paris, Oct. 23-(UP) = Premier Benito Mussolini will withdraw ont of the three divisions of troop! which he has sent to Libya. Premier Pierre Laval announced today.
 The announcement was regarded as likely to lessen the tension in tht Mediterranean considerably.
 Mussolini was understood to have concentrated approximately 50,00( troops, backed by airplanes and tanks, in Libya near the Egyptian border.
 In the face of Britain's resent ment at the concentration, Laval recently suggested that Mussolini reduce his forces there, in return for which Britain would withdraw a few of her capital ships from the Mediterranean.
 Laval informed the foreign affairs committee of the chamber of de- puties that Mussolini had decided to make a conciliatory gesture by removing part of his troop concen- tration.
 Laval indicated that an ofiicial announcement on the troop with drawal may be expected shortly.
 In a long, detailed exposition oi foreign policy, Laval reiterated te the committee that Britain and France had agreed on interpretation of Article 16 of the eLague Gov enant, as entailing automatic mu- tual aid for a state attacked by an- other designated as an aggressor by the league.
 Laval was closely questioned about the juridical position of France with regard to sanctions Several members insisted that the conciliation efforts of France prior to the leagues designation of Italy as the aggressor were commendable but that thereafter they served te encourage Italy.
 Laval disagreed with them, in- sisting that France would carry ou! all obligations under the covenant none of which have been nullified by her continuous efforts to find 3 peaceful solution.
 Mussolini Agreed
 Laval said he was announcing tho forthcoming withdrawal of an Ital. ian division from Libya with Musso. lini's permission.
 The latter, he said, had indicated he wished to make gesture in re. sponse to the conciliatory efforts oi France, as well as to cooperate witt Britain in relaxing the Mediterra. mean tension.
 It was understood Britain nov would withdraw some of her Med. iterranean strength.
 However, the British were believed to have calculated on withdrawing two ships totalling 75,000 tons (prob- ably the Hood and RenownD in ex- change for the withdrawal of al the Italian re-inforcements sent tC Libya. The British were under the impression that four divisions had been sent there, instead of three.
 It now remains to be seen, since Mussolini's concession is only one- fourth of what Britain believes he has in Libya, whether Britain will withdraw the Hood and Renown oi only smaller warcraft totaling 1s,50( tone, one-fourth of the original sug- gestion.
 Laval expressed the hope that Britain would reply to the Italian gesture by reducing the tonnage oi her Mediterranean fleet.
 He told the committee that he had warned Italy long ago that if she continued her Ethiopian campaign she would face collective action by the league and that France would take part in it.
 BY H. R. EKINS
 Copyright 1895 by United Press,
 Southern Front, via Harar, Oct 23.-(UP)-Ethiopian forces are massing in the dense brusht south of the Harar r-Jijiga region. prepar- ing with all possible secrecy for a great battle intended to relieve pressure on the northern front.
 Accelerated military activities ir the Ogaden region foreshadow events likely to determine the sue. cess or failure of Gen. Rodolfo Gra- zianis campaign.
 Graziani, supreme commander ol the Italian troops in southeastern Ethiopia, is driving inland from