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L^gjYjHTTMENT
IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY S GOVERNMENT).
!
SB C l U '
COPY NO.
C A B I N E T
53
(35).
M e e t i n g of the C a b i n e t t o be held, a t 1 0 , Downing
S t r e e t , S . Y 7 . 1 . , on TUESDAY, 1 0 t h DECEMBER,
1935. a t 12 noon.
A G E N D U M .
THE ITAIO-ABYSSINIAN DISPUTE.
(Reference
C a b i n e t 52
(35)),
R e c o r d o f a C o n v e r s a t i o n b e t w e e n M. L a v a l
S i r Robert V a n s i t t a r t .
and
( S e e T e l e g r a m No. 257 from S i r George C l e r k ( P a r i s )
r e c e i v e d by t e l e p h o n e a t 4 . 3 0 a.m. t o - d a y ) .
Copies o f t h i s t e l e g r a m have been c i r c u l a t e d t h i s
morning by t h e F o r e i g n O f f i c e .
(Signed)
M.P.A.
Secretary
2, W h i t e h a l l Gardens,
10th December,
S.W.I.,
1935.
HANKEY,
to t h e
Cabinet
IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
COPY NO.
C A B I N E T
53 ( 3 5 ) .
CONCLUSIONS of a M e e t i n g o f t h e C a b i n e t h e l d
1 0 . Downing S t r e e t . S . W . L , on TUESDAY,
10th DECEMBER. 1 9 3 5 at 12 noon.
at
5
PRESENT:
The R i g h t Hon. S t a n l e y B a l d w i n . M . P . ,
Prime M i n i s t e r .
( i n the C h a i r ) .
The Right Hon.
J. Ramsay MacDonald,
Lord P r e s i d e n t o f t h e C o u n c i l .
The R i g h t Hon.
N e v i l l e Chamberlain, M . P . ,
C h a n c e l l o r of the E x c h e q u e r .
The Right Hon.
The Viscount H a i l s h a m ,
Lord C h a n c e l l o r .
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r John Simon, G . C . S . I . ,
K . C . V . 0. , O.B.E. , K . C . , M . P . ,
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r Home
Affairs.
The Right Hon.
The Viscount H a l i f a x , K.G. ,
G.C.S.I. . G . C . I . E . 5 L o r d P r i v y
Seal.
The R i g h t Hon.
A . Duff C o o p e r , D . S . O . , M.P. ,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r War.
The Right Hon.
Malcolm MacDonald, S e c r e t a r y
State f o r Dominion A f f a i r s .
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t S w i n t o n , G . B . E . ,
M.C. , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
Air.
of
Ihe Most Hon.
The Marquess o f Z e t l a n d ,
C C S . I . , G.C.I.E. , Secretary
of State f o r I n d i a .
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Godfrey C o l l i n s , K . B . E . ,
C.M.G., M . P . , Secretary of
State f o r Scotland.
The Right Hon.
J.H.Thomas, M.P. , S e c r e t a r y
of State f o r t h e C o l o n i e s .
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t M o n s e l l , G . B . E . ,
F i r s t Lord of the Admiralty.
The Right Hon.
Anthony Eden, M.C. , M. P. ,
Minister f o r L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s
Affairs.
The R i g h t Hon.
L o r d Eustace P e r c y , M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r without P o r t f o l i o .
The Right Hon.
Walter E l l i o t , M.C. , M.P. ,
Minister o f A g r i c u l t u r e and
Fisheries.
The R i g h t Hon.
Oliver Stanley, M.C., M.P.,
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board o f
Education.
he Right Hon.
Sir K i n g s l e y Wood, M. P. ,
Minister o f H e a l t h .
The R i g h t Hon.
E r n e s t Brown, M . C , M.P. ,
M i n i s t e r of Labour.
T
The R i g h t Hon.
W. Ormsby-Gore, M.P. ,
F i r s t Commissioner o f Works.
THE FOLLOWING WERE ALSO PRESENT:Mr. M . D . P e t e r s o n , C.M.G. ,
Head o f t h e A b y s s i n i a n
Department, F o r e i g n O f f i c e .
p:4? ITAhOABYSS IN IAN
The C a b i n e t h e l d a S p e c i a l M e e t i n g ,
summoned a t
DISPUTE.
short n o t i c e ,
Anglo-French
Conversations .
i n P a r i s b e t w e e n t h e Permanent t i n d e r - S e c r e t a r y
Proposed.
^Embargo on
% 1 Supplies
for I $ a l y .
Proposed B a s i s
of Peace D i s ­
cussions .
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 52
(35).)
State
to c o n s i d e r t h e Record o f
for Foreign Affairs
T e l e g r a m No . 2 5 ? )
a Conversation
and M. L a v a l
of
(Foreign
i n w h i c h M. L a v a l d e f i n e d h i s
towards the i m p o s i t i o n o f
an o i l
sanction.
attitude
\Vhat
M. L a v a l wanted, was an engagement b e t w e e n t h e
Kingdom and French Governments t h a t
proposals
Office
if
the
United
peace
a l r e a d y accepted, by them w e r e refused, by
A b y s s i n i a w i t h a v i e w t o b r i n g i n g an o i l
sanction
into play,
should
be
fresh sanctions against
Italy
not
imposed.
On t h e s u g g e s t i o n o f
Peterson, of
Paris
t h e F o r e i g n O f f i c e , who had a t t e n d e d
d i s c u s s i o n s , was p r e s e n t d u r i n g t h e
The M i n i s t e r
the
t h e Prime M i n i s t e r , Mr Maurice
f o r League o f N a t i o n s
Cabinet t h a t
previous
that
Affairs
Robert
sion.
that
in detail of
After
effect
Vansittart
should be
the proposed b a s i s
for
diseus­
t h e C a b i n e t had taken t h e d e c i s i o n
on t h e p r e v i o u s
e v e n i n g he had
communicated by t e l e p h o n e w i t h S i r R o b e r t
( i n P a r i s ) , who at f i r s t
difficulties
reminded
the C a b i n e t would p r o b a b l y make t h e
p o i n t t h a t A b y s s i n i a as w e l l as I t a l y
informed
Meeting.
e v e n b e f o r e t h e M e e t i n g on t h e
e v e n i n g he had warned S i r
(in Paris)
had a n t i c i p a t e d
to
immediately
Vansittart
no g r e a t
w i t h t h e French Government.
After
dinner,
h o w e v e r . S i r R o b e r t V a n s i t t a r t had r e p o r t e d t h a t
was, e n c o u n t e r i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s
Government s t r o n g l y
and t h a t t h e
pressed t h a t the
s h o u l d be s e n t a s h o r t e r account o f
The M i n i s t e r
that
for
consideration,
that a p a r t i a l
for
had b e e n p r o p o s e d went f u r t h e r
t h e Committee o f F i v e .
telegraphed
the
French
proposals.
d e c i s i o n , reached
A b y s s i n i a , would not s u f f i c e ,
lie
Abyssinians
League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
t h i s was a Cabinet
careful
the
had
replied
after
account
to
t h e r e a s o n t h a t what
than t h e p r o p o s a l s
Sir Robert V a n s i t t a r t
again shortly a f t e r midnight,- to
-1­
had
the
of
effect
that i f
t h e French a c c e p t e d our p o i n t o f
t h e y would e x p e c t t h a t we should a g r e e t h a t
embargo s a n c t i o n should
The M i n i s t e r
not be a c c e p t e d at
f o r League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
t h a t he could not p o s s i b l y
without consulting
view
the
oil
Geneva.
had
replie
g i v e such an assurance
the Prime M i n i s t e r
o b t a i n i n g Cabinet a p p r o v a l .
and p r o b a b l y
M o r e o v e r , he c o u l d not
s e e how such a p l a n would work o u t i n
practice.
F o r e x a m p l e , t h e I t a l i a n r e p l y might be o f
an
e q u i v o c a l n a t u r e w h i c h t h e F r e n c h would
interpret
differently
Vansittart
from o u r s e l v e s .
S i r Robert
had s e e n M. L a v a l at 2 a.m. and had s e n t h i s
No .257 ( A p p e n d i x
Minister
M,
I) .
In r e p l y t o a q u e s t i o n the
f o r League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
L a v a l had good r e a s o n s
A b y s s i n i a would r e f u s e
the
that
that
offer.
reminded t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
accept
added
for believing
In the d i s c u s s i o n that f o l l o w e d ,
Affairs
telegram
the Cabinet
State
for
were
Foreign
had a g a i n and a g a i n emphasised t h a t we would
anything that a l l
d i s p u t e would a c c e p t ,
three parties
namely,
t h e League o f N a t i o n s .
I t was s u g g e s t e d
t h e League o f N a t i o n s , and t h a t
position.
Government i n a d i f f i c u l t
In t h i s
that
and
the
A b y s s i n i a and
I t a l y was b e i n g
put
T h i s might i n v o l v e
the
situation.
c o n n e c t i o n t h e Prime M i n i s t e r
had r e c e i v e d
this
I t a l y , Abyssinia
d i c e w e r e now b e i n g l o a d e d a g a i n s t
into a privileged
to
s a i d he
the f o l l o w i n g P r i v a t e N o t i c e
Question
f r o m Mr A t t l e e
"To ask t h e Prime M i n i s t e r w h e t h e r ,
b e f o r e any f u r t h e r a c t i o n i s t a k e n ,
t h i s House w i l l , be i n f o r m e d o f t h e
nature o f the proposals f o r the
settlement o f the I t a l o - A b y s s i n i a n
war t o which P i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n - '
ment i s c o m m i t t e d . "
The M i n i s t e r
reported
for
League o f N a t i o n s
Affairs
t h a t t h e P r e s s were a s k i n g f o r
1
guidance,
Government had a g r e e d t o any
After
proposals.
some d i s c u s s i o n t h e M i n i s t e r
Nations A f f a i r s
handed round t h e a t t a c h e d
t e l e g r a m to S i r Robert V a n s i t t a r t
discussion
following
f
f o r League
Appendix
further
II).
of
draft
as a b a s i s
for
To t h i s he added t h e
paragraph
" I n t h e meantime M. L a v a l may be
a s s u r e d t h a t should I t a l y a c c e p t
t h e proposed b a s i s o f s e t t l e m e n t and
Abyssinia refuse , His Majesty's
Government would n e i t h e r p r o p o s e
nor support t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f
f u r t h e r s a n c t i o n s upon I t a l y u n l e s s
f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t s had m o d i f i e d
the s i t u a t i o n . "
After
itself
discussion, this
to the Cabinet,
a d d i t i o n did not
commend
and t h e f o l l o w i n g
was s u g g e s t e d by t h e C h a n c e l l o r o f
the
alternative
Exchequer
" I f I t a l y a c c e p t s and A b y s s i n i a
r e f u s e s , ^ i s M a j e s t y ' s Government
would n e i t h e r p r o p o s e nor support
the i m p o s i t i o n o f further sanctions
a t once o r b e f o r e i t i s c l e a r t h a t
no chance remains o f a s e t t l e m e n t by
agreement.
But t h e y would not
Pledge themselves to
oppose
f u r t h e r sanctions f o r a l l time
o r i n new c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h cannot
now be f o r e s e e n . "
general
Tnis
draft
met w i t h t h e ' a p p r o v a l
In a discussion o f
Nations A f f a i r s '
that
of
the M i n i s t e r
draft
omitted.
refusing
as b e i n g
A good d e a l o f
"remote
the p r o p o s a l s
the
11
that
contingency
s h o u l d be
discussion took
place
I t a l y were
on t h e p r e v i o u s
in taking t h e i r
of
agreement
and A b y s s i n i a , were t o
I t was s u g g e s t e d t h a t
Cabinet,
Cabinet.
f o r League
as t o what t h e p o s i t i o n would b e i f
accept
the
t h e r e was g e n e r a l
the d e s c r i p t i o n on page 2 o f
Italy
of
refuse.
evening
d e c i s i o n , had. not
to
the
intended
t h e p r o c e d u r e a t Geneva should be a l t e r e d
Abyssinia refused .
either of
entitled
dropped.
I t was a l s o s u g g e s t e d t h a t
t h e p a r t i e s r e f u s e d we were
t o assume t h a t
if
if
legally
t h e p r o p o s a l s would be
On t h e o t h e r hand, i t was thought t h a t
I t a l y were t o accept
and A b y s s i n i a were t o
refuse
if
i t was c e r t a i n t h a t Prance would not a g r e e t o any new
s a n c t i o n s o r t o be i m p l i c a t e d i f
in military
consequences.
w i t h the Cabinet
not be w i l l i n g
new s a n c t i o n s
In that
decisions, this
to involve
itself
event,in
accordance
c o u n t r y a l s o would
i n any new s a n c t i o n s
l i a b l e t o p r o v o k e e x t r e m e a c t i o n by I t a l y .
a danger, t h e r e f o r e ,
resulted
There was
t h a t a p o s i t i o n might be r e a c h e d
i n w h i c h I t a l y would be c o n t i n u i n g
the w a r , no new
s a n c t i o n s would be imposed, p o s s i b l y t h e
existing
s a n c t i o n s would n o t be c o n t i n u e d , and t h e
sanctions
f r o n t would have b r o k e n .
The C a b i n e t w e r e reminded t h a t s a n c t i o n s could o n l y
appropriate
be b r o u g h t t o an end by they body o f t h e League o f
N a t i o n s a t Geneva, and t h a t u n t i l t h a t body
at any r a t e t h e p r e s e n t
Another
acted
s a n c t i o n s c o u l d not be r e m o v e d .
s u g g e s t i o n was t h a t t h e e x i s t i n g
sanctions
might be g i v e n up i n r e t u r n f o r an a r m i s t i c e .
was, however, a r i s k that
Abyssinia refused,
if
Italy
There
a c c e p t e d and
some c o u n t r i e s might r e f u s e
continue the e x i s t i n g
sanctions.
come t o an end and t h e p o l i t i c a l
c o u n t r y might become
They would
to
then
situation in
this
difficult.
I t was p o i n t e d o u t , h o w e v e r ,
that
t h e p r o p o s a l s now
under c o n s i d e r a t i o n w e r e t h e l o w e s t terms w h i c h t h e
French Government and t h e S e c r e t a r y
Foreign Affairs
thought t h a t
of
State
for
I t a l y might a g r e e
to.
They w e r e t h e b e s t t e r m s , from the A b y s s i n i a n
point
of view,
If
t h a t c o u l d be o b t a i n e d
by us
from I t a l y .
those
terms had been r e j e c t e d y F r a n c e would not have gone
on w i t h s a n c t i o n s .
The S e c r e t a r y
reported
part
of
State
f o r A i r at t h i s
t h a t he had seen an O f f i c e r
in the i n i t i a l
Air discussions.
h a r d l y have been more u n s a t i s f a c t o r y .
point
who had t a k e n
These
could
The French
o o u l d t a k e no e f f e c t i v e
preparatory
action
m o b i l i s a t i o n , which i n v o l v e d a p o l i t i c a l
and d e c r e e s .
Even i f
q u i t e unready on t h e
n o t even send a i r
also
decision
a c t i o n was s a n c t i o n e d t h e y
Italian frontier.
to Prance.
insisted that
o u t t h e y must be c o n f i n e d
if
unless
The French
reore­
hostilities
broke
to the Mediterranean
area.,
T h e r e must be no a t t a c k from F r e n o h ^ t o r r i t o r y ^
might be w i l l i n g ,
h o w e v e r , t o r e n d e r some
t o M a l t a from N o r t h A f r i c a n t e r r i t o r y .
however,
that
they
any h o s t i l i t i e s
They
assistance
It, was
clear,
intended, t h a t t h e w h o l e brunt
should
fall
were
They would
squadrons t o N o r t h A f r i c a
we sent t h e e q u i v a l e n t
sentatives
before
on t h e B r i t i s h ,
of
and t h a t
no r e l i a n c e c o u l d be placed, upon them.
At t h e r e q u e s t o f
made a short
statement
the C a b i n e t Mr Maurice
in reply
We thought, t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
Affairs
his
State
for
questions.
Foreign
had been p l e a s e d a t M. L a v a l ' s r e c e p t i o n
proposal
was, of
to c e r t a i n
Peterson
for
joint
Staff
discussions,
though he
c o u r s e , unaware t h a t t h o s e d i s c u s s i o n s
would
make what appeared t o have been an i n a u s p i c i o u s
The S e c r e t a r y
promise that
felt
of
S t a t e had been s a t i s f i e d , w i t h
France would f u l f i l
as t o w h e t h e r M. L a v a l
public opinion with him.
dispelled
could c a r r y
This uncertainty
French a t i i t u d e had perhaps been a f a c t o r
sion of
possible
offer
that
for
by
M.Laval'a
French
as t o
in the
a settlement.
favourable
to
e v e n t the F r e n c h c o u l d n o t have
t h e y had a r e a s o n a b l e
confident
p r o p o s a l s , w h i c h gave t h e
t h a t t h e y might h a v e t a k e n
the
diacus­
I t was
Italy,
to
but.
guaranteed
prospect o f success .
The French had seemed r a t h e r
the present
M,Laval's
the F r e n c h might have been induced
terms t h a t w e r e l e s s
in that
that
t h e French p r o p o s a l s
start.
her e n g a g e m e n t s , but­
a d o u b t , w h i c h was not a t a l l
attitude,
of
regarding
impression
"soundings" in
Italy.
As t o t h e p r o p o s a l s t h e m s e l v e s , Mr P e t e r s o n s a i d
they f i l l e d
out t h e o r i g i n a l
proposals o f
Committee o f F i v e r a t h e r i n
Italy's
w e r e r a t h e r more f a v o u r a b l e
to
quite
liked.
the
favour.
Italy
They
than he h i m s e l f
For e x a m p l e , t h e c e s s i o n o f
territory
t h a t A b y s s i n i a was asked t o make i n t h e N o r t h ,
the extension of
the area o f
that
commercial
and
development
i n the South,
The Southern p a r t o f A b y s s i n i a w a s ,
he u n d e r s t o o d ,
sparsely
inhabited,
r a c e s - not A b y s s i n i a n s .
a fairly
large
subject
There w e r e some
h o w e v e r , w h i c h were e c o n o m i c a l l y
contained
and by
districts,
flourishing
population.
and
He c o u l d not
e s t i m a t e how much the I t a l i a n s would o b t a i n o u t
o f t h e economic e x p l o i t a t i o n o f
this
from s e t t l e m e n t .
l a y r a t h e r low and
was u n s u i t a b l e
races,
for
though t h e
The t e r r i t o r y
territory
apart
c o l o n i s a t i o n by N o r t h European
I t a l i a n s might
find i t
less
unsuitable.
I n r e p l y t o a q u e s t i o n as t o w h e t h e r t h e r e had been
any d i s c u s s i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e s e t t l e m e n t now p r o p o s e d
would be a d e t e r r e n t
to a future
aggressor,
Mr P e t e r s o n s a i d t h a t M, L a v a l had c l a i m e d t h a t a
s e t t l e m e n t on t h e s e l i n e s would go a l o n g way towards
better
conditions
British relations
i n Europe by e s t a b l i s h i n g
on a f i r m f o o t i n g .
Franco-
He agreed, w i t h
t h e s u g g e s t i o n from a- member o f t h e C a b i n e t
that
M. L a v a l had a l s o had i n mind t h e i m p o r t a n c e
b r i n g i n g the
To t h i s
it
I t a l i a n s back t o t h e S t r e s a
could, be added t h a t t h e
front.
territorial
exchange was a r e a s o n a b l e o n e , and. t h a t t h e
part o f
the proposed s e t t l e m e n t
on o t h e r
grounds, e . g . ,
area
economic d e v e l o p m e n t ,
for
c o u l d be
economic
justified
the small p o p u l a t i o n o f
A b y s s i n i a , had. done p r a c t i c a l l y
it"
of
and t h a t V i s M a j e s t y ' s
the f a c t
nothing to
the
that
develop
Government s t o o d
pledged
to give
in
some r e c o g n i t i o n t o
economic
claims
Abyssinia.
In r e p l y to
a question the M i n i s t e r
Nations A f f a i r s
reported that
approached on t h e
of
Italy's
a violent
subject
of
for
League
of
s e v e r a l n a t i o n s had b e e n
c o - o p e r a t i o n i n the
r e a c t i o n by I t a l y
to the o i l
The Turks had g i v e n a s a t i s f a c t o r y
event
sanction.
reply,
but
c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h Y u g o - S l a v i a were s t i l l
the
continuing.
I t was thought p r o b a b l e t h a t s e v e r a l n a t i o n s would
reply
to gether .
The Cabinet w e r e reminded o n c e more o f
front
of
t h a t had b e e n p r e s e n t e d
the
by t h e S t a t e s Members
t h e B r i t i s h Coim.norw e a l t h i n t h e w h o l e o f
episode,
A s u g g e s t i o n was made t h a t
t i e s which were l i k e l y
issue a l l
likely
that
to
to
to reject
dissensions.
the p o l i t i c a l
confront
diffieul­
the Cabinet
t h e p r o p o s a l s , and i t was
t o be s e n t t o A b y s s i n i a b e f o r e
suggested
proposals
t h e y went t o
The C a b i n e t were r e m i n d e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t
t h e P r e s s r e p o r t s were not
entirely
Italy.
although
a c c u r a t e and
somewhat i n s u b s t a n c e , b o t h A b y s s i n i a
I t a l y must have a p r e t t y
the proposals .
parties
in
l a t e hour i t might b e w o r t h w h i l e
and induce t h e F r e n c h t o a l l o w t h e
differed
lest
a r o s e from t h e f a c t t h a t A b y s s i n i a was
even at t h i s
to try
this
and some a p p r e h e n s i o n s were e x p r e s s e d
t h e p r e s e n t p o l i c y might l e a d
this
firm
good i d e a o f t h e c o n t e n t s
We had always
said that the
concerned must a g r e e , n a m e l y ,
and t h e League o f N a t i o n s :
done was t o l e t
all
and
Italy,
of
three
Abyssinia
and t h e o n l y t h i n g t o be
t h r e e know as near as
possible
a t t h e same t i m e .
^he M i n i s t e r
if
f o r League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
he was t o support
Prime M i n i s t e r
done and t h a t
asked
the p r o p o s a l at Geneva, and t h e
agreed that
t h i s -would have t o be
t h e r e might have t o be some
s p e a k i n g about t h e m i l i t a r y
situation.
plain
Towards t h e end o f
the Meeting
a number o f
p r o p o s a l s w e r e made and adopted f o r
the
draft
detailed
t h e amendment
t e l e g r a m s u b m i t t e d by t h e M i n i s t e r
League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
t e l e g r a m as f i n a l l y
Discussion also
i n Appendix
II.
of
for
The
a d o p t e d appears i n Appendix
III.
t o o k p l a c e as t o t h e r e p l y t o be
g i v e n t o t h e P r i v a t e N o t i c e Q u e s t i o n by t h e
Leader
of
earlier
t h e Labour O p p o s i t i o n P a r t y ,
i n the Meeting.
The r e s u l t
g i v e n i n Conclusion ( b )
The Cabinet a g r e e d
of
referred
this
to
discussion
is
below.
—
(a)
That t h e M i n i s t e r f o r League o f
N a t i o n s A f f a i r s should a t once send
t o S i r Robert V a n s i t t a r t ( a t P a r i s )
t h e t e l e g r a m s e t f o r t h i n Appendix I I I :
(b)
That t h e r e p l y to t h e P r i v a t e N o t i c e
Q u e s t i o n by Wv A t t l e e should b e as
follows : The House i s aware t h a t t h e Committee
o f C o - o r d i n a t i o n at Geneva has
approved n e g o t i a t i o n s by t h e French
and U n i t e d Kingdom Governments i n
an attempt t o f i n d a b a s i s f o r t h e
s e t t l e m e n t o f the I t a l o - A b y s s i n i a n
d i s p u t e * Such a b a s i s would., o f
c o u r s e , have t o be subrnitted f o r
t h e v i e v s o f t h e p a r t i e s . The
F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y , i n passing
t h r o u g h P a r i s , had c o n v e r s a t i o n s
on t h i s s u b j e c t on Saturday and
Sunday w i t h M, L a v a l , and c e r t a i n
p r o p o s a l s , both as t o substance and
p r o c e d u r e , were d i s c u s s e d b e t w e e n
them.
No suggested, b a s i s has at
p r e s e n t been s u b m i t t e d f o r t h e v i e w s
o f e i t h e r I t a l y o r A b y s s i n i a and i t
would c l e a r l y be premature t o make a
staiement on the s u b j e c t a t p r e s e n t .
NOTF f o r
supplementary:-
Question:
When w i l l be t h e f i r s t
o ppo r t uni t y f o r a s t a. t e me nt ?
Answer:
The League i s i n v o l v e d i n
all this.
I f the m a t t e r
p r o c e e d s t o t h e p o i n t when
t h e a p p r o p r i a t e Committee
a t Geneva a u t h o r i s e s
p u b l i c a t i o n o f any p r o p o s a l s ,
t h e s e would t h e n become t h e
subject o f general discussion.
The House must remember t h a t
France and o u r s e l v e s a r e
acting in t h i s matter with
the approval o f the League.
(o)
That, in r e p l y to Press e n q u i r i e s ,
t h e M i n i s t e r f o r League o f N a t i o n s
A f f a i r s should a r r a n g e f o r them t o
be informed t h a t no p r o p o s a l s had
y e t been s u b m i t t e d e i t h e r t o I t a l y
or A b y s s i n i a , but t h a t t h e d e t a i l s
o f t h e p r o c e d u r e t o be a d o p t e d w e r e
b e i n g discussed w i t h the French Govern­
me nt f
( d ) That i f a r e q u e s t were made f o r a
P a r l i a m e n t a r y Debate, the Prime
M i n i s t e r should endeavour t o a r r a n g e
that i t should not take p l a c e b e f o r e
Tuesday, December 1 7 t h .
2, W h i t e h a l l
Gardens,
December 1 0 ,
S.7.1,
1935.
APPENDIX
S i r G. C l e r k
Decypher.
I.
(Paris).
December 10th 1 9 3 5 .
December 10th 1935.
4.30
R.
No.257.
By
December 10th 1935.
a.m.
Telephone.
MOST IMMEDIATE.
F o l l o w i n g from S i r R. V a n s i t t a r t f o r
After
Laval
our l a s t
telephone
a g a i n about 2.0 a.m.
as f o l l o w s .
conversation
w i t h a v i e w to b r i n g i n g p e t r o l
9
Nevertheless
s
since His Majesty's
he was w i l l i n g
siderable
but i t
saw Monsieur
his
attitude
He had not d e s i r e d t o send p r o p o s e d message
was c e r t e i n
?
I
He asked me t o d e f i n e
A d d i s Ababa because he had r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e
it
Mr. E d e n : -
that
to
a refusal
sanction into
Government wished to
play.
send
to do so and he r e g a r d e d t h i s as a c o n ­
advance on h i s p a r t
towards B r i t i s h p o i n t o f view $
was on d i s t i n c t u n d e r s t a n d i n g
that i f
anticipated
refusal materialised
t h e r e would be no q u e s t i o n o f
petrol
t o l d him t h a t I had a l r e a d y made quite­
sanction.
I
c l e a r h i s p o s i t i o n i n the m a t t e r .
He s a i d t h a t
imposing­
the
point
which he wished to emphasise was t h i s .
He c o u l d n o t be
s a t i s f i e d w i t h an u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f
consultation i n view
of
fresh
a new s i t u a t i o n which would have a r i s e n .
engagement b e t w e e n two governments t h a t i f
a c c e p t e d by H i s M a j e s t y ' a
were r e f u s e d
play;
for
then f r e s h
a proposal
Government and French
such a measure
already
Government
sanction should n o t be b r o u g h t
i n such c i r c u m s t a n c e s he would f i n d
impossible to get
or
He wanted an
it
a c c e p t e d by h i s
the c o u n t r y and he d i d n o t wish to f i n d h i m s e l f
into
quite
colleagues
embroiled
with His M a j e s t y ' s
colleagues
of
Government o r any o t h e r o f
a t Geneva., though he seemed c o n v i n c e d t h a t none
them w o u l d , i n such a h y p o t h e s i s
pressure.
certainly
In t h i s I
right.
sufficiently
in fact
to t a k e account o f
s u c c e s s - t o p e r s u a d e him
attitude
reached t h i s morning.
All
to
It
of
­
that
consult
d e c i s i o n on a new s i t u a t i o n
have come a b o u t .
this
assumption t h a t I t a l y
hour I had done my utmost
c o v e r e d an engagement
and t o t a k i n g no p r e c i p i t a t e
would o b v i o u s l y
additional
Prom t h i s he showed no s i g n s w h a t e v e r
a t i m e w i t h some hope o f
the p o s i t i o n
proceed with
3
should have thought he was a l m o s t
b u d g i n g a l t h o u g h a t an e a r l i e r
for
his
w i l l be
which
necessary
i n any d e c i s i o n which may be
the f o r e g o i n g
i s of
accepts while Abyssinia
course
on
refuses.
Monsieur L a v a l has n o t a t t e m p t e d to d i s c u s s an e v e n t u a l i t y
i n which b o t h p a r t i e s m i g h t
My own o p i n i o n i s
on t h i s p o i n t we s h a l l
refuse.
that unless there
find ourselves
impasse which m i g h t e i t h e r
entail
l o n g and damaging d e l a y .
I further
almost u n i v e r s a l
contention
support i n t h i s
and p r o b a b l y i n o t h e r
q u i e t e d by the p r o s p e c t o f
now r i g h t l y p r e s s i n g
have
proposals.
to
a breakdown o r a t b e s t a
feel
that there w i l l
country f o r
countries
concrete
Monsieur
at p r e s e n t
to
be
Laval's
dis­
a c t i o n f o r which we a r e
in certain eventualities.
apply s t i c k
agreement
tomorrow f a c e d w i t h an
thought g e n e r a l o p i n i o n would be t h a t i t
omtd.) p o s s i b l e
the
can be
I
should
would ( ?
a c o u n t r y which had
grp.
accepted
APPEHDIX
Following for
II.
S i r R.
Vansittnrt.
The C a b i n e t have c o n s i d e r e c l your t e l e g r a m T7o.- 257.
In their view i t
i s not p o s s i b l e
of discussion for
alone.
Moreover,
a settlement
the f a c t
t o submit p r o p o s e d
t o one p a r t y
to the
t h a t the terms o f
b a s i s have beer-, g i v e n w i d e though i n a c c u r a t e
i n the French p r e s s ,
need f o r
and s u b s e q u e n t l y h e r e ,
the Emperor t o r e c e i v e
given,full
and c o r r e c t
terms f o r
settlement
from t h e v i c t i m o f
Therefore
early
the proposed
publicity
emphasises
the
as near as may be
I t a l i a n Government.
To submit
t o t h e a g g r e s s o r and w i t h h o l d
a g g r e s s i o n seems t o us
them
indefensible.
and c o m p l e t e communication o f
Emperor cannot i n t h e
dispute
e q u a l t r e a t m e n t by b e i n g
information
a t the same time as the
basis
text
judgment o f H i s M a j e s t y ' s
to
Government
r e a s o n a b l y be r e g a r d e d as a c o n c e s s i o n to t h e i r p o i n t
of
view.As t o our a t t i t u d e
quite clear
basis for
time.
that the n e g o t i a t i o n s
There would t h e r e f o r e
an o i l
it
seem to be no q u e s t i o n o f
Italy
future,
of
t h e two
them must i n any
c r e a t e a new s i t u a t i o n which H i s M a j e s t y ' s
have t o
consider.
event
Government
and t h e French Government t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e o t h e r
t h e League w i l l
the
refusing,.
i s t o b e e x p e c t e d t h a t the r e p l i e s
p a r t i e s t o the terms put b e f o r e
of
is
i n connection w i t h the
s a n c t i o n i n the immediate
i n the c o n t i n g e n c y o f
It
sanction,
s e t t l e m e n t now p r o p o s e d must t a k e some c o n s i d e r a b l e ^
imposition of
except
to the o i l
Members
In a d d i t i o n , b e f o r e
imposed i t
is probable
would third? i t
an o i l
that
the Committee o f
t h e Leagtie..
For a l l
i n the immediate f u t u r e
1
II. L a v a l
materialises
petrol
for
those of
seems u n l i k e l y
Government t o g i v e
asks t h a f i f
to
to
1
materialise.
His
the u n d e r t a k i n g f o r
which
anticipated, refusal
Such an u n d e r t a k i n g
t h e League as a w h o l e ,
sanction
i s not p o s s i b l e f o r
t h e r e would be no q u e s t i o n o f
sanction '.
of
o t h e r members
t h e s e r e a s o n s an o i l
On t h e o t h e r hand, i t
Majesty s
Eighteen
n e c e s s a r y t o examine t h e r e l a t i o n
United. S t a t e s s u p p l i e s o f o i l
of
s a n c t i o n could, b e
is
(by
Abyssinia)
imposing
clearly
one
and a t t i t u d e o f H i s Ha jester's
Government i n such c i r c u m s t a n c e s would have to depend
on a number o f
f a c t o r s which cannot he c a l c u l a t e d
we know the n a t u r e o f
the r e p l i e s . .
until
APPENDIX
F o l l o w i n g f o r S i r E.
III
Vansittart.
The C a b i n e t have c o n s i d e r e d y o u r
In t h e i r view i t
discussion for
Moreover.,
I s not p o s s i b l e
a settlement
the f a c t
g i v e n wide
that
t o submit proposed b a s i s
t o one p a r t y
the terms o f
t o the d i s p u t e
submit
terms f o r
the Emperor
and c o r r e c t
settlement
early
communication o f p r o p o s a l s
and c o m p l e t e
must be an e s s e n t i a l
information
presentation
their
To
them
Therefore
t o the Emperor
communication to
to t h e Committee o f
as
0
seems t o us I n d e f e n s i b l e .
condition of
and
receive
t o the a g r e s s o r and w i t h h o l d
aggression
their
to
the same time as the I t a l i a n Government
from the v i c t i m o f
or o f
alone.
i n the French p r e s s
s u b s e q u e n t l y h e r e emphasises t h e need f o r
equal t r e a t m e n t by b e i n g g i v e n f u l l
of
t h e proposed b a s i s have been
though i n a c c u r a t e p u b l i c i t y
near as may be at
t e l e g r a m No. 257.
t h e League
Italy
with
our supporto
Adjournment
the f a c t
that
It
judgment depend on
the communication had been made t o b o t h
i s not p o s s i b l e
the u n d e r t a k i n g
refuse
at Geneva would i n our
f o r H i s M a j e s t y ' s Government
f o r which H . L a v a l
the proposals
there
parties.
asks t h a t
should
would be no q u e s t i o n o f
Such an u n d e r t a k i n g
to
give
Abyssinia
enforcing
the p e t r o l
sanction,.
the League
as a whole
Government
i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w i l l have t o depend on a number
and the a t t i t u d e
o f f a c t o r s w h i c h cannot be c a l c u l a t e d
of
the
of His
one
for
Majesty's
u n t i l wc know the
nature
replies.
It
simple
is clearly
i s by no means c e r t a i n t h a t
affirmatives
or n e g a t i v e s !
answers w i l l
differences
as t o w h e t h e r one or o t h e r
answer i s
a c c e p t a n c e or r e j e c t i o n , .
It
is
the
t o be
to be
may w e l l
regarded
expected
that
be
arise
as an
the
replies
of the two parties to the terms put before them must in any
event create a new situation which His Majesty's Government
and the French Government together with the other Members of
the League will have to consider.
In addition before an oil sanction could be imposed
it is probable that the Committee of Eighteen would think it
necessary to examine the relation of non-member States' supplies
of oil to those of members of the League
0
For all these
reasons an oil sanction in the immediate future seems very
unlikely to materialise except in the contingency of Italy­
refusing the proposals
6
If Italy accepts and Abyssinia refuses the proposed
basis of settlement His Majesty's Government would neither
propose nor support the imposition of further sanctions at
once nor before it is clear that no chance remains of
settlement by agreement.,
But they could not pledge themselves to oppose further
sanctions for all time or in new conditions which cannot now
be foreseen.,