ITALIAN TROOPS MASSED?

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22595, 28 December 1938, Page 9

ITALIAN TROOPS MASSED?

FRONTIER OF FRENCH SOMALILAND

REACTIONS IN PARIS TO REPORTS (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.)

{Received December 28, 2.5 a.m.)

PARIS, December 27,

Pertinax, in “L’Ordre,” and Madame Tabouis in “L’Oeuvre,” report heavy massing. of Italian troops on the frontier of French Somaliland.

Madame Tabouis does not take this seriously, mentioning that the Italians must cross 200 miles of desert before attacking French territory, but Pertinax declares that the concentration is accompanied by intensified anti-French propaganda from Fascist radio stations, recalling the Abyssinian campaign. Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax are likely to see M. Daladier and M. Bonnet on the way to Rome. Pertinax adds; “Mr Chamberlain flatters himself he can act as mediator between Italy and France. A more realistic view makes him appear a dangerous agitator in spite of his excellent intentions. Some assert that Signor Mussolini will take advantage of an incident in order to confront Mr Chamberlain with a fait accompli, x-elying on Mr Chamberlain to forestall France’s reaction.”

CLAIMS TO TUNIS AND DJIBUTI

PRESS CAMPAIGN IN

ROME

PLANS FOR M. DALADIER’S VISIT TO AFRICA

(Received December 27, 8.30 p.m.)

LONDON, December 27

The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Italy’s claims to Tunis, and Djibuti are still being given prominence in the press, which now alleges that Germany supports Rome and that Britain refuses to support France’s refusal to cede the territory. It is stated that France must eventually surrender to the force of circumstances.

General Labonne, French Resident General, has arrived in Paris from Tunis. He conferred with M. Daladier about M. Daladier’s coming visit, and reported that everything was quiet and the Tunisian Grand Council was carrying on harmoniously. The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says that a big naval demonstration is being planned for M. Daladier’s visit. It will include 23 warships, many submarines, and an aircraft-carrier. As M. Daladier’s ship cruises past Sardinia and Sicily on his visit to Tunis he will have an escort of three new 10,000-ton battleships, and the Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Destroyer Divisions. The “Daily Mail” says Italy is watching M. Daladier’s programme with the closest possible attention. Signor Mussolini is concentrating his naval forces, as a reply to M. Daladier’s display. Signor Virgilio Gayda says it is evident that France intends warlike demonstrations. SOVIET PROTEST TO ITALY ATTACK ON CONSULATE AT MILAN (Received December 27, 10.30 p.m.) MOSCOW, December 26. The Soviet has requested the closing of its consulate at Milan and of the Italian consulate at Odessa as a protest against the failure of the Italian Government to explain satisfactorily an attack on the Milan consulate during anti-French demonstrations.

ITALIAN DENUNCIATION OF AGREEMENT

FRENCH REPLY RECEIVED

(Received December 27, 8.10 p.m.)

ROME, December 26.

The French Ambassador (M. Francois-Poncet) handed to Count Ciano the French reply to Italy’s Note denouncing the agreement of 1835. The contents are not disclosed.