EARLY ACTION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 201, 3 June 1940, Page 5

EARLY ACTION

ANTICIPATION BY AMERICA. FRANCE CANCELS AGREEMENT. ' BALKANS’ VIEW OF ITALY. (United Press Association.— Copyright.) LONDON, May 31. A message from Washington says that Senator Key Pittman (chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) in a speech prepared for delivery to-night, indicated that the entrance of Italy into the war was momentarily expected. He had made alternative drafts of his speech in case Italy went to war before he delivered it. He said the United States would he deeply affected if the Germans defeated the Allies. The only thing that could relieve the United States from the present threat was Herr Hitler’s defeat.

It is reported from Paris that Italian journalists are returning home. A spokesman at the French War Office said that their departure did not necessarily mean war with Italy, hnt it was possible .that Italy would enter the fight within 10 days, when a new German offensive could be expected. The French Government has decided that it will not approve the FrerichItalinn economic agreement which is awaiting signature. A spokesman declared that the decision resulted from the rupture of the British-Italian economic negotiations.

It- is reported from Budapest that the Hungarian Prime Minister (Count Telelci), predicting an early German victory, said: “Hungary will help her Italian and German friends to maintain peace in the Balkans.” The Italian Ambassador to Germany (Signor Dino Alfieri) was received by Herr Hitler at his headquarters, states the Official German News Agency. Herr von Ribbentrop (the Nazi. Foreign Minister), was also present. The Italian press continues its proGerman policy. After repeating the claim that Corsica is Italian, one paper states: “This problem of the island will be* finally settled during the present European Avar.” The Italian wireless announces that two big industries have given up their patents to the Government for three years to hasten the production of military aeroplanes.

From time to time the probability of Italy’s entry into the Avar comes under review in diplomatic circles in London, The nature of tho pressure exercised on Italian opinion by the officially controlled Italian press and Avireless is obvious, but British Government circles deny that any intimation has been received of the intentions of Signor Mussolini. Nor is there any kno\vledge in London of exchanges reported to have taken place between Mr Roosevelt and the head of the Italian Government. Should Signor Mussolini bring his country sooner or later into the Avar against the Allies, it is clear that that action Avill be dictated by considerations other than those arising from the existing relations.

The Allies, from the beginning of the ■war, have clone their utmost in the exercise of contraband control to meet the difficulties of neutral States and ii: the case of Italy have shown a ready disposition to discuss details with the Italian authorities. The Master of the Rolls (Sir Wilfred Green) has only recently returned from negotiations in Rome in which it is understood, on the British side, an agreement in principle had been reached for new agreements in respect of contraband control. Yet three days ago the Italian Governmentlet it be known that these negotiations were broken off.