Evening star., 1936-02-05
SANCTIONS FIGHT
RENEWEDBY|TALy
DuCe'S Grand Council HurlS
Challenge on Eve of
Geneva Action.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Threat of porld embargo against
oil shipments to Italy has loomed
as greatest threat to italian inpd-
sion OF Ethiopia. Producing much
less than / per cent OF ,Dorld's oil
supply, Italy's army and many are
at mercy of producing nations for
Ditdl fuel.
For SeDerdl months League OF
Nations has conducted campaign
OF economic pressure against buy
ing from or selling to Italy, tOith ef-
feet making itself felt in increasing
degree.
Copyright, 1896, by the Associated Press)
ROME. February 5.-Premier Mus
solini and his Grand Council, with re-
newed confidence in their military
power, flung challenge of counter
action today against the threat of a
League of Nations oil embargo.
Fascism's highest executive body, in
a session which extended into the
morning hours, gave uncompromising
support to II Duce's campaign for con-
quest in Ethiopia and fresh defiance
to the Leagues war penalties.
A terSe communique, issued after the
session, announced that the Fascist
Grand Council established the lines
of Italy's counter action in the event
of further Tightening of sanctions"
1t urged the Fascist armies in East
Africa on to new conqueStS in Ethio-
pia. cast fresh derision on the dis
carded Franco-British proposals for
peace and approved Sterner CONNER
cial regulations to combat the Leagues
economic siege.
Specific Data Withheld.
Italv's warning to the world that
new sanctions would strike fire from
Mussolini's fully-prepared realm did
not cite specific measures decided
upon in the councils private session.
Informed sources nevertheless, re-
called the recent admonition by II
Duce's own organ, Popolo D1talia,
that an oil sanction-now being con-
u1 a Va NAPSA o Nv
Geneva-eventually would mean
blockade. and blockade will be war"
Advance speculation also included a
possibility that Italy Immediately
would sever diplomatic relations with
any nations adopting the proposal for
an oil embargo. striking at the source
OF vital supplies for the nations
mechanical armies.
II Duce faced the Grand Council
with -the-minute information on
the military and economic resources
Italy could mobilize in the event OF
spread of the East African conflict to
European war.
Duce Addresses Council.
This information was delivered to
Mussolini only few hours before the
Grand Council session by the Supreme
Commission of Defense
After his meeting with the defense
commission, II Duce addressed the
Fascist Grand Council for an hour.
What he stold his most important
advisers prompted them to issue their
communique, thoroughly attuned to
the MuSsolini slogan-"We Shall
March Straight On!"
AS evidence of this determination,
II Duce sent his son-in-law, Count
Galeazzo Ciano, minister of press and
propaganda, back to East Africa to
resume command of his desperate"
squadron of flyers on the northern
front.
Count Ciano, who had returned to
Rome to undergo nasal operation,
was joined by Lieut.. Col. Achille Star
ace. Fascist party secretary, and Ro-
berto Farinacci, former party secre-
tary, making their first trip to the
front.
No Date Set for Meeting.
The Grand Council adjourned with
out setting a date for its next meet
ing, contrary to prevailing rumors that
it would hold frequent meetings to
follow the Geneva sanctions develop
ments
Authoritative sources interpreted
this to mean II Duce felt he had the
current situation well in hand-to
such an extent that further consulta-
tions would be unnecessary until the
League acted finally on the oil en-
barge proposal.
An Italian war communique an
nouneed today that Gen. Rudolfo
GRAHAM reopened his drive along the
valley of the Webbe Gestro, in South
ern Ethiopia, and routed native de-
Tenders at Lamma Shilindi.
IaNrSnIrDN GEES Wan ArrAn