BITTER FEELING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 9

BITTER FEELING.

ITALIANS ANGRY. Protest Against Agreement of France and Britain. ACTION IN MEDITERRANEAN. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON", January 24. The Italian Government has addressed a Note to Britain and other sanctionist members of the League, protesting against the FrancoBritish mutual assistance agreement. It states that such initiative and understanding do not conform to the spirit of the League and have produced an atmosphere of profound disquiet thus endangering European peace. Italian criticism of Britain and of the Foreign Minister, Mr. Anthony Eden, broke out again in virulent form to-day. "II Popolo d'ltalia" publishes a long indictment of League policy, and refers to "iniquitous" sanctions. Thus the relative truce apparent since the death of King George has been abandoned. The British memorandum to the League Council revealed that the British, French, Greek, Yugoslav and the Turkish Governments are pledged to mutual assistance in the Mediterranean in the event of an Italian attack, as outlined by Mr. Eden. The Italian Note asserts that such precautions are uncalled for, especially in view of . Signor Mussolini's repeated assurances that Italy has no intention of attacking Britain. 'Italy, it is declared, does not want to make the Italo-Abyssinian war more than a colonial one, for which reason the possibility of an attack on the British Fleet is said to be ridiculously out of the question. Disposal of Rumours. A British official wireless message states that it was hoped in London that the publication of Mr. Eden's memorandum would have the effect of finally disposing of various rumours and mis-

interpretations which have received, currency during the past few weeks. The assurances, with which the Rumanian Government has also associated itself, arise out of and do not go beyond the obligations imposed by paragraph 3of Article XVI. As the French Note emphasises: "They cannot therefore give rise to any surprise or misunderstanding on the part of international opinion."

In both the British memorandum and the French Note it is made clear that the technical conversations in which military, naval and air experts have taken part, following the reaffirmation of political accord in the interpretation of the Covenant, have been confined entirely to the situation arising from the possibility of an Italian attack on a Power engaged in applying sanctions according to the League's decision. The effect of the mutual assurances, which have now been made public at Geneva, is to place beyond doubt that in the' event of an attack by Italy on any of the seven League States concerned because of that State's participation in League sanctions, the others would come to the assistance of the State attacked. —