SATISFACTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1938, Page 7

SATISFACTORY.

ARABIC BROADCAST.

Heard Clearly Throughout

Near East.

BRITAIN'S BELATED START

British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 4. Technical and Press reports received by the 8.8.C. indicate that the first Arabic broadcast from London was heard with satisfactory strength and clearness in Cairo, and throughout the Near East. The "Manchester Guardian," commenting on the broadcast, says the British Government has been a long time in deciding to fall in line with the practice of most other countries regarding foreign broadcasts, and many people consider that scrupulous feelings . of dignity have allowed a bad situation to grow worse. It adds, however, that although the Arabic broadcasts may be considered as in some sense the result of Italian propaganda- broadcasts, they are not in the nature of a reply to them.

ITALIAN VIEW. British Arabic Broadcast Not Objectionable. PRESS STILL RESENTFUL. (Received 11.30 a.m.) ROME, January 4. Official quarters do not comment on the British broadcast in Arabic, but admit privately that it was not objectionable. They say future broadcasts will be followed as carefully as was the first.

Meanwhile, newspapers, in the absence of a lead from the Government continue to regard the broadcasts as s direct affront to Italy.

AMAZING ITEM.

Britain Broadcasts Italian

Attack.

CONVERSATIONS IN ROME

(Received 2.30 pjn.)

LONDON, January 4.

Italian officials at Rome who were keeping an eye on Britain'e Arabic broadcasts, were surprised to-night when the 8.8.C. broadcast to the Arabs Italian attacks against Britain, including Signor Gavda's in the "Berliner Tageblatt."

"The Times" correspondent says the British Ambassador, Lord Perth, had & conversation with Count Ciano on broadcasts. The initiative for the talks came from Italy. The outcome may be arrangements between the two Governments whereby broadcasts will be kept within limits satisfactory to both.

The "Daily Sketch" says that when the House of Commons reassembles in February astounded members will demand to know why Italian attacks against Britain were broadcast to Arabs. They will particularly ask what fantastic explanation lies behind the broadcast of Signor Gayda's article.

BETTER RELATIONS.

What Britain Must Concede

To Italy.

ITALIAN EDITOR'S ATTACK.

BERLIN", January 4.

In an article in to-day's issue of the "Berliner Tageblatt," Signor Gay da, editor of the Rome newspaper "Giornale d'ltalia," complains that no decisive step has yet been taken to implement the "gentlemen's agreement" between Britain and Italy, concluded a year ago. He describes Britain's foreign policy as obscure, degenerate and hesitating.

Signor Gayda goes on to say that the presence of Italian volunteers in Spain neither threatens Britain's Mediterranean communications nor constitutes a breach of the "gentlemen's agreement," because Italy does not seek anything in Spain.

- The article adds that there are conditions necessary for the improvement of relations, namely:—

(1) Recognition of the Italian conquest of Abyssinia.

(2) Confidence and loyalty, especially in the Spanish question.

(3) A candid recognition of the new historic realities—Fascism, National Socialism, the Berliu-Konie axis and the filial departure from the League of Italy and Germany.

The writer concludes: "Until the position of others becomes clearer, Italy goes on her Imperial way in full agreement with her mighty political friend— ready for everything "