Evening star., 1935-09-09
Italian Troop Movements Seen.

Italian Troop Movements Seen.
By the Associated Press.
ADDS ABABA, September 9,-An
Ethiopian government communique
TODAY said: "Telegrams from the
northern frontier show that the
Italians are making important troop
movements on the Ethiopian and
Eritrean frontier, indicating an early
offensive against Ethiopia.
Emperor Halle Selassie, it was
learned on the highest authority TO-
day. has instructed the Ethiopian
delegation at Geneva to reject OUT
right all solutions thus far proposed
BY the powers for the settlement OF
the Italo-Ethiopian conflict.
These formulas include q pri-par-
tite mandate over Ethiopia, as sug-
eested by France, with the League OF
Nations guaranteeing Ethiopia's inde-
pendence and territorial integrity;
Frances proposal for an Italian pro-
tectorate similar to that OF the Brit
ish in Iraq, and an international
police force similar to the one that
occupied the Saar before its reStora-
ton to Germany.
Ethiopia to Fight to Last.
The Emperor made it clear to the
delegates that Ethiopia will go down
fighting rather than accept any OF
the conditions now proposed, even II
the League is dragged down with 1t.
Ethiopia's position was likened to
that of a householder threatened by
an armed intruder. If the League
wants to help a householder defend
his rightful possession, so much the
better and such aid is deeply appre-
ciated If. however. war must come,
Ethiopia is prepared to defend itself
to the last man, the last dollar and
the last drop of blood. This is the
attitude of the grim and determined
little sovereign.
The Emperor's decision followed a
consultation with his brain trust,
including Everett Andrews Colson, his
American financial adviser, who urged
him to maintain an iron front against
the various peace schemes emanat-
ing from Geneva.
The Emperor also is absolutely
against an Italian political and eco
nomic hegemony in Ethiopia in any
form. Informed circles reported him
willing to have foreign experts come
to Ethiopia to assist the government
in developing and administering the
country, but under no circumstances
can he accept Italian experts.
willing to Cede Territory.
It is understood that the Emperor
Is willing to negotiate the sale to Italy
of part of Cgaden, the easternmost
territory of Ethiopia, and also to grant
Italy the light to construct a rail-
way or highway from Eritrea to Con-
dar and a highway from Assab to
Adds Ababa, construction of which
was agreed to in 1926 but later can
celed. The Emperor also is willing
for the League of Nations to nomi-
nate his advisers, provided he has the
right to reject any he considers un-
acceptable.
The governments communique, cou-
pled with the arrival of two Italian
consuls from the interior and 1taly's
action in closing all her consulates in
Ethiopia, dissipated the earlier opti-
mistic feeling here that peace might
yet be achieved.
Mai. Calderini, the Italian military
attache, is to leave tomorrow for
Djibouti, where he was to continue
his work as observer
France May Take Over Interests.
Luigi vinci- -Gigliucci, italian Min
ister to Ethiopia, dispatched five tons
of furnishings from the Italian Lega-
ton in a special freight car. He was
to confer today with the French Min
lister. Colleagues presumed the con-
ference would be with view to hav-
ing France take over Italian interests
in Ethiopia in event of war.
The government here countered
Italy's reported troop movement by
sending additional men and munitions
to the northern front. Thirty Ameri-
can trucks loaded with ammunition
and other supplies started north today.
News of the apparent imminence OF
war stimulated recruiting Thousands
of the most affluent citizens offered
their own and their employees services
to the Emperor, proposing to pay their
own equipment costs.
Heavy. spasmodic rains continued
over the plateau.
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