Evening star., 1936-04-09

GtSJdDOT, caused BTtLQtn eDenLuQLy
to make determined display of
sea potDer in Mediterranean that
lacked cooperation of France.
British statesmen urged sanctions
that Were uoted By League, but
neuer rere carried out against Italy.
MuSSolini recently agreed to er-
change Uie1us on peace, but later
startled the world by demanding
dnnihildtion OF Ethiopid's army.
Loc1rno polUers continue to null
oUer Hitler'S re-occupation OF the
Rhineldnd, France yesterday urging
"super state" to compel obseru-
dnce OF boundaries.
Copyright. 1896. by the Associated Press }
GENEVA, April 9.-Anthony Eden.
British foreign secretary, appealed to
Italy in the League of Nations today
not to use poison gas against the
Ethiopians.
He made his appeal shortly after
French ministers informed him that
if Germany should continue it's vio-
lation of treaties through erecting
Notifications along the Rhine France
reserved the right to take any steps
she felt the situation justified.
The French asserted the building
Of Notifications in the Rhineland
zone would be a direct violation of
the Versailles treaty, which the
League decided Germany broke by
placing troops in the demilitarized
Rhineland.
Asks Truth About Gas.
In a meeting Of the League Coun-
ellis Committee of Thirteen
comprises every member of the Coun-
Gil except Italy-Eden also demanded
an immediate investigation to de-
termine the truth of allegations that
the Italian forces in Ethiopia are US
ing aSphyxiating gases.
The British cabinet minister sug-
gested that, In order to make the
Leagues attitude impartial, both Italy
and Ethiopia give pledges not to re-
sort to the use of gas, which is pro-
hibited in warfare under international
treaties.
In the course of his speech, Eden
remarked that when armies in the
field or aviators used poison gas it
was always with the approval Of their
high command, thereby insinuating
that Premier Mussolini's general staff
authorized the use of gas.
Eden declared it was known that,
since the beginning of hostilities,
Italy had shipped 259 tons of poison
gas through the Suez canal.
Power to Probe Upheld.
A subcommittee of jurists, selected
yesterday to investigate the gas
charges, reported to the committee of
13 that any competent organ of the
League, particularly the Council, has
the power to inquire as to whether
belligerents are violating the conven-
ton prohibiting the use of gas.
The jurists also stated that the sig
natories Of the anti-gas convention
naturally have the right to inquire as
to what extent the convention is being
followed.
In this connection, it was remarked
that the United States signed the 1925
treaty prohibiting the use of poison
gas.
AS to the Rhine crisis, the French
indicated the German erection Of
Notifications on Frances eastern from
tier would certainly be likely to render
extremely difficult the negotiations for
new security system in Europe.
Flandin and Joseph Paul-Boncour,
French minister of state, also told
Eden they were placing no time limit
on the period of their negotiations
with Germany.
They said they were willing to go
forward with general conversations
for new deal" in Europe, reserv-
ing Frances rights, however, con-
cerning the Rhineland situation.
Ethiopia Open to Farley.
wolde Marian, Ethiopian minister
to Paris, called on Eden and said
Ethiopia was ready to talk peace
with Italy, but only under the aus
pices of the League and within the
spirit and the framework of the
League Covenant.
Ethiopia absolutely refuses to ne
gotiate alone with Italian plenipo-
tentiaries," Marian told Eden.
The Ethiopian minister then visited
Salvador de Madariaga of Spain,
chairman of the Leagues concilation
committee of 13, and repeated what
he had told Eden.
At the suggestion of Frances for
eign minister, Pierre Etienne- -Flandin,
however, the subcommittee was told
to look into charges Of Ethiopian use
Of durndum bullets against Italian
troops.
Puppet State Feared.
The British delegation insisted upon
q quick arnlistice and an opening of
peace undertakings in time to forestall
any attempt by Premier Mussolini to
sign a settlement with some "puppet"
government which might rise from
ruins Of Halle Selassie's Ethiopian
empire.
Eden indicated the British were de-
termined to make peace progress "be-
fore we leave Geneva" Britain reserv-
ing its decision as to what to do next
II this conciliation effort failed.
Persons close to the foreign secre-
tary said his persistence in bringing
up charges of Ethiopian gas incidents
was motivated by a desire to forestall
any possibility of European gas at
tacks in the future, as well as to halt
any present suffering in Africa.