ITALY BELIEVES TIME IS NOT RIPE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 103, 2 May 1940, Page 8

ITALY BELIEVES TIME IS NOT RIPE.

NAZI STATEMENT. Outstanding Differences With Democracies. NO SUDDEN CHANGE SATS DUGE United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LOXDON", May 1. Hcrr Hess, deputy-leader of the Nazi party, in a speech, said that Italy believed the time had not yet come to speak of the outstanding differences between her and the Western Powers;. For the moment Germany was a sufficient opponent for the democracies. News of the diversion of British shipping from the Mediterranean was released to the Italians this afternoon when the Ministry of Propaganda circulated the British Foreign Office communique. For the past three days Italian broadcast news bulletins from London have been jammed. The Press at first ignored the British precautions in the Mediterranean and concentrated on rejoicing over alleged great German successes in Norway. The liner Rex sailed for New York, and other vessels left according to schedule. The official Gazette announces the appointment of a committee to ensure rapid and orderly transition of Italian telephone and telegraph communications to a war footing. Signor Mussolini is reported to have assured the United States Ambassador, Mr. William Phillips, at a personal interview to-day that, there would be no sudden change of Italy's position. A French Foreign Office spokesman stated that the Italian attitude towards the Allies in the last two days was definitely alarming. Future relations would not be easy. He added that apprehension was based on the general attitude of the Italian Government and diplomatic circles rather than on specific facts.