ENGLAND
CLIVEDEN SET
S
23
guests for a week-end at Cliveden. The Prime Minister of Eng
land came and so did Lord Halifax, Lord Lothian, Tom Jones
and
J. L.
When
Garvin, editor of the Astor-controlled
London
Observer.
Chamberlain returned to London, he asked Eden to open
negotiations with Italy to secure a promise to stop killing British
and sinking British merchant vessels in the Mediterranean.
sailors
this
During
time the British Foreign Office was issuing statements
that Mussolini
fied"
was
"cooperating"
in the
hunt
for the
"unidenti
pirates.
British opinion, roused by the sinking of English ships, might
hamper deals with the fascist leaders if such attacks were not
ended. In return for the cessation of the piratical attacks,
Cham
berlain was ready to offer recognition of Abyssinia and even
loans to Italy to develop her captured territory. It was paying
tribute to a pirate chieftain, 'WB6