MORE FRIENDLY TO BRITONS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21992, 16 January 1937, Page 18

MORE FRIENDLY TO BRITONS

CHANGE IN ATTITUDE OF

ITALIANS

"MUSSOLINI NOT POPULAR"

1 [THE PRESS Special Service.]

DUNEDIN, January 15,

"There was a marked difference in the attitude of the Italian people toward Britons last month from the attitude of 16 months ago. The first time I visited Italy the ship was berthed at Naples, and every action was closely watched and regarded as hostile, but last month when I was at Sicily the residents were very friendly," said Mr A. Mercer, the wireless operator of the steamer Vinemoor, which berthed at Ravensbourne this morning.

Mr R. A. Eden, the Foreign Secretary, seemed to be the only Briton whom the Italian people wholeheartedly despised, he said. They even went so far as to scratch his name on the deckhouses and sides of British vessels as an expression of their opinion. The Italian press was heavily censored and as only the official Italian point of view was published the people did not know the full facts, but Britain's Foreign Secretary was apparently not in favour with Signor Mussolini. Signor Mussolini, although he was reported to have spies everywhere, was not popular. In Sicily it was dangerous to mention his name, although one wharf labourer very ably demonstrated his opinion of II Duce in none too complimentary terms and very bad English. "The people are very poor, food is both bad and scarce, and clothes are ragged," added Mr Mercer. Shoals of children begged for food and even the ship's agent, who was a person of standing in the community, was overwhelmed when his request for butter was granted.