ITALY’S POSITION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 303, 20 September 1939, Page 10

ITALY’S POSITION

Anxiety Regarding Ability To Stay Neutral GRAVE DIFFICULTIES By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. NEW YORK, Sept. 18. The Rome correspondent of the “New York Times” states that Italy has so steeled her neutrality that even the Russian invasion of Poland is without the slightest outward effect, yet it is certain that this move has added to the country’s grave anxieties regarding its ability to remain neutral, for it now seems clear that the war will quickly reach the Balkans.

Already it is reported on good authority that the Germans are massing troops on the border of Slovakia and Rumania, and it would not be surprising if Rumania were invaded very shortly.

It is now taken for granted in Italy that England and Erance will declare war on Russia, and it is also felt that Turkey will find very grave difficulties in maintaining her alliance with England. It is highly doubtful that even a Russo-German invasion of Rumania, with the Soviet seizing Bessarabia, would alter Italy’s firm decision to stay out of the war. The correspondent says that if and when Yugoslavia and Hungary are brought into the ever-widening flood of war Italy’s position would be extraordinarily difficult. It is against every historical tradition that Italy would countenance German and Russian penetration of the Balkans, but the fact remains that the Axis is still in official existence, and it is inconceivable that Italy would attack Germany. Now that the Italians feel that the Russian move represents another bitter blow to the Allies and do not see how they are going to wage war against the Soviet, they s»e virtually the whole European Continent except France either at war with the Allies or helplessly neutral, and believe that the Allies are now going to face the gigantic if not hopeless task of blockading the whole Continent.

ITALIAN AMBASSADOR IN LONDON Significant Appointment (Received September 19, 9.30 p.m.) ROME, September IS. Signor Giuseppe Bastianini, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, has been named as Italian Ambassador in London, replacing Count Grandi, whose appointment as Minister of Justice was announced in July. The Rome correspondent of the “New York Times” says Signor Bastianini’s appointment is regarded as the clearest indication that not only is Italy determined to remain neutral, but also to remain friendly with Britain. The New York “Herald-Tribune’s” Rome correspondent says it is significant that Signor Bastianini was Ambassador to Poland for four years.. The appointment indicates no sympathy with the latest aggression. No doubt Italy is apprehensive of Russia’s westward move, carrying with it the possibility of the rebirth of the dream of a Pan-Slav Balkans. BALTIC COUNTRIES Outlook For Commercial Neutrality LONDON, September IS. The Copenhagen correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company says that the Norwegian Foreign Minister. Professor Koht, when attending a meeting of the Premiers and Foreign Ministers of Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, declared that though tiie belligerents are interested in nonviolation of their military neutrality, the outlook for the commercial neutrality of the four countries is darker than during the last war. He said he could not consider extension of the British convoy system to northern countries, which would be self-supporting in foodstuffs and would help each other in respect to raw materials and industrial products, except coal.