ITALY'S TREND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 9

ITALY'S TREND.

OMINOUS PORTENT.

Strained Relations With

France.

DEFENCE COUNCIL TO MEET. Independent Cable Service. (Received 12.30 p m.) ROME, February 5. Signor Mussolini's speech was not mace public. An announcement issued later declared that the Fascist Grand Council approved two resolutions.

II Duce gave a resume of the general international situation, which the Grand 'Council repeatedly applauded.

Signor Mussolini summoned a meeting of the Supreme Defence Council for 9 a.m. to-morrow to review the situation in Spain and Italy's preparedness for any eventuality arising from the strained relationships with France.

The first of the two resolutions passed by the council, expressed profound satisfaction at Herr Hitler's recent speech, the second being as follows:—

"Meeting on the day of the fall of Gerona, the council sends its ardent greetings to the heroic combatants in Spain, and proclaim that the volunteer forces of Fascism will not abandon the I struggle until it ends triumphantly with General Franco's victory.'*

The council will meet again on Friday, when it is expected in Rome that the conquest of Catalonia will be complete and Italian troops will be on the Pyrenees frontier of France. PANAMANIANS ANGRY. Italian Admiral Pelted With Rotten Eggs. CANAL AS FRONTIER. (Received 1 p.m.) PAX AM*. CITY, February 5. Two Italian cruisers, arriving on a goodwill cruise, met angry crowds. Admiral Somigli's car was pelted with rotten eggs as he drove to meet the President. Police reserves were called out.

Feeling is high owing to Signor Gayda's editorial stating that the ItaloGerman defence frontiers may extend to the Panama CanaL