Evening star., 1936-04-17
ETHIOPIA'S FALL
NEAR AS EFFORT
AT PEACE FAILS
League to Convoke
Council Monday
ON Problem.
DUCE'S PROPOSAL
FLATLY REJECTED
France Makes Appeal
to Italy to Halt
Hostilities.
Copyright. 1898, BY the Associated pressl

Copyright. 1885. by the Associated press)
GENEVA, April II. The
League of Nations Committee of
Thirteen agreed today that at
tempts to effect a conciliation in
the Italo-Ethiopian War have
failed.
It Is this committee which, for
months past, has tried to effect peace
in East Africa through diplomatic
channels.
Its decision came after the Ethiopian
delegation had rejected modified peace
proposals submitted by Premier Mus
solini of Italy.
The committee decided to convoke
the League Council to extraordinary
sessions next Monday to discuss the
Italo-E Ethiopian conflict in the presence
of the representatives of the two bel
ligerents.
while Italy is a member of the
Council and Ethiopia is not, on sew
eral previous occasions during the
Italo-E Ethiopian controversy both ma
tions have been represented at Coun-
Gil sessions. However, the Italian
delegates usually have withdrawn
when the Ethiopians entered)
Rejection Is Complete.
The rejection was described as
complete"
The Ethiopian action followed an
Italian offer to let the League have
the right to keep constantly in touch
with direct negotiations between the
Italian high command and the Ethio-
plan government for a settlement Of
the war in East Africa.
Early in the day, France had ap-
pealed to the italian government to
consent to a cessation of hostilities in
order to permit peace negotiations.
Several members of the committee
Of l3, arriving for that body's meet
ing, said that in view of Ethiopia s
rejection there seemed to be nothing
to do except declare that Cancellation
efforts had collapsed.
It is the committee of 13. compris-
ing every member Of the Council ex-
cept Italy, which Is entrusted with
the effort Of bringing about a concin-
alton between the combatantS.
The League announced, as the COM
mission went into session shortly after
4 pm, that it had received a cable
gram direct from Adds Ababa in
which the Ethiopian government de-
clared the capital had been attacked
by Italian airplanes which fired on
the city with machine guns.
Paul-Boncour Urges Truce.
French Minister of State Joseph
Paul -Boncour earnestly told Baron
Pompeo AloiSi, II Duce'S Geneva
spokesman, that an Italian concession
even if it meant only an armistict
for a limited period-would have 6
most helpful effect upon world opin'
ion and contribute to easing the tense
| situation.
Baron Aloisi promised to telephone
Rome. He told Paul -Boncour thai
Premier Mussolini was ready to make
concessions of form in his peace pro-
gram, to meet the wishes of the
League of Nations and Great Britain
but would find it difficult to change
essentials of his plans.
While the Italian and French rep
resentatives conferred, Salvador de
Madariaga of Spain, chairman Of The
Leagues Cancellation Committee o!
13, and Joseph A. C. Avenol, secretary.
general of the League, met member;
Of the Ethiopian delegation.
Ethiopia Reserves Reply.
The Ethiopians reserved their reply
after being presented with the Fascist
program for peace procedure, as modi.
fed by the Italians late yesterday
still calling for direct negotiations but
with contact to be maintained with
the League.
League sources forecast that thi:
Italian modification would be judgec
insufficient by the Ethiopians, headed
by Wolde Marian, Emperor Halle Sc.
lassie's minister to Paris and delegate
to the League.
The Italian amendment gave the
(See LEAGUE, Page a.