Evening star., 1935-12-05
Toxic Prestige
i'm Peril, Says
HOare.
TWO WARSHIPS
LEAVE BASE
Nation Ready to
Apply Oil Ban,
Commons Told.
Nv the Associated Press.

warning to Japan against aggression
in China and an overture to Italy to
end aggression in Ethiopia were ex-
tended today by Sir Samuel Hoare,
foreign secretary, as two OF the
empires warships were withdrawn
from the Mediterranean.
Sir Samuel said the situation In
North China might be harmful TO
Japan's prestige among other coun-
tries unless she quickly clarified her
attitude.
II can only regard it as unfortu-
nate" he told the House Of Commons,
"that events should have taken place
which, whatever the actual truth OF
the matter may be, lend color to the
belief that Japanese influence is ex-
erted to shape Chinese internal po-
litical developments and administrative
arrangements.
Anything which tends to create
this belief can only do harm to the
prestige of Japan and hamper develop
ment, which we all desire, of the
friendliest mutual relations between
Japan and her neighbors and friends.
Pleads for Italian Amity.
Concerning the British relationship
TO Italy at this moment, he pleaded
Can we not lay aside suspicious anc
concentrate in the immediate future
upon finding a basis for settlement
making it possible for the world tc
return to normal life?"
He delivered a pronouneement OF
the British stand for oil sanctions
against Italy, however, when he told
the House of Commons, we are pre-
pared to play our part"
The foreign secretary's pronounce
ment was made shortly after it was
learned at the Admiralty that the
battle cruisers Hood and Renown have
left Gibraltar for msneuvers in the
Atlantic.
The foreign secretary told the Com
mons Great Britain as well as the
League of Nations had already agreed
to the all embargo in principle.
The question still to be decided, u
he said, rs whether the action of nom
member states would render ineffective
the action of member states.
Further light was recently thrown
on this important question with the
result that 1t is now possible for the
committee Of 10 to have further
meeting for the purpose of discussing
the actual application and form of
the pressure that has already been &C
cepted in principle"
The great increase in oil exports to
Italy did not come from companies
in which Great Britain is interested,
the foreign secretary said, denying
British companies are exploiting the
situation.
Oil Shipments Decline.
Oil shipments to Italy by the An
elo- -Iranian Oil Co. had in fact fallen
during the first IL months of this
year from the shipments for the cor
responding period of 1884. he said.
The sharpest reduction was made
during the period from August to
October.
ut may be we are engaged on a
hopeless task" Sir Samuel continued.
'It may be it is impossible to reconcile
the divergent aims of the League of
Nations, Italy and Ethiopia. 1t may
be the atmosphere is so heated it Is
impossible for the voice Of reason to
prevail.
None the less the French and We
intend not only to go on trying, but to
redouble our efforts during the short
period of time still open before the
Geneva meeting.
THE world urgently needs peace
We and the French, acting on behalf
of the League and in the spirit Of the
League, are determined to make an
other great effort for peace.
Appeals for Peace.
II appeal once again to Signor Mus
solini and his fellow countrymen to
dismiss entirely from their minds the
suspicion that we have sinister mo-
tives behind our support Of the
League. We have none. Let them
dismiss from their minds the suspicion
that we wish to humiliate Italy. We
wish to see Italy strong and honored
in the world.
Let them dismiss from their minds
the suspicion that We wish to drive
q wedge between Italy and France.
We wish to see Italy and France the
firmest friends and We are glad we
were able to help in the entente that
brought Italy and France together at
the beginning of this year."
The Hood and Renown left Gil
brsltar today They will call at
Madeira, in the Portuguese Islands, 500
miles southwest Of Portugal, and
Taneier, Northwest Africa, returning
within 10 days. Others will go when
the first group returns, in movements
described officially as the normal
course of feet exercises"
Political circles speculated as to
whether the move was a friendly
gesture to Italy, which recently re-
called one of four troop divisions from
Its North African possession of Libya
to aid Ethiopian peace negotia-
tions.
Informed sources said there was no
political significance. The scene Of
the feet exercises will be within easy
reach of Gibraltar.
II nuna Cwnnnk ny Air