ITALY COMPLAINS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 137, 5 March 1940, Page 8

ITALY COMPLAINS

British Ban On Coal From Germany GENERAL PROTEST Allied Contraband Control Under Fire i»v Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received March 4, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, March 4. The radio announced that lively diplomatic activity is. proceeding with a view to permitting 20 ships with German coal for Italy to sail for Italy without hindrance from the British contraband control. . Italy’s protest against the British han has been handed to the British Embassy. It is believed that the protest also covers the entire held of ill-effects of the British and French control of all the Italian seaborne trade. Seizures of United States copper and nickel, East Indies rubber, ami South American cotton have irritated the Italians, and the belief is encouraged that Britain is trying to exploit trade matters for political ends. Signor'Farina-Cinis, writing in the “Regime Fascista,” describes the coal embargo as “an act of arrogance and insolence. It is a reprisal for the Ita - ian refusal to sell arms to England The light is waged against unarmed populations, not against armies. Any reaction is legitimate.” The Italians declare that iso.oot) tons of German coal is awaiting shipment to Italy, and that it would have been shipped before the time limit established by the contraband control but for the freezing of the German canals. The Italian protest complains that the British Government’s economic warfare is against the letter and the spirit of international rules, and adds that there is little distinction between absolute and conditional contraband. It states that coal suppiles arc necessary to Italy, and that the British measure may seriously impair the relations established between the two countries in 1938. In British circles it is stated that the measure is in no sense a reprisal, but. that Britain could not allow Germany to go on exporting coal while all her other exports were seized. It is also stressed that Italy received notice of the decision three months ago, and that Britain was prepared to negotiate to provide the necessary coal supplies. In these negotiations Italy offered to exchange fruit for British coal, but the British authorities, wanted the products of her heavy industries as exchange and a deadlock resulted. The negotiations have not broken off. and it is expected that they will be resumed shortly.—Daventry radio.

PAPACY MUST PLAY MAJOR PART

Advancement Of Peace (Received March 4, 7.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 3. The staff of the German Embassy, attending Pontifical High Mass celebrated by the Apostolic Delegate in honour of the anniversary of the I'ope’s coronation, heard the Most Reverend William Griffen, auxiliary Archbishop of Newark, warmly assail the totalitarian Governments’ excessive nationalism, “which forgets man is a human being before anything ei.se,” and the totalitarian States’ overthrow of the doctrine of Christ's Divinity. Archbishop Griffen declared that in I lie present bitter conflict between truth and error, between liberty and tyranny, the Papacy must play a major part in' the advancement of peace. Members of Congress, leading clergy, ad members of the diplomatic corps were present. A Vatican City message says the I’ope, in a short address after the celebration of Mass at St. Peter’s, pleaded to Jesus to calm the tempests and so enlighten the minds of the world’s rulers that they would lay down their arras and live a new life of faith and good will. The Pope concluded with a prayer to God to bring Christian peace to the world.

DARDANELLES REPORT

Denial By Great Britain (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 3. Rumours that Britain has asked in Ankara for a modification of the rules of the Montreanx Convention relative to the passage of warships through the Straits are denied in London.

DILUTION OF LABOUR

Electrical Union Objects (Received March 4. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Marcli 3. A mass meeting of the Electrical Trades Union decided to oppose all forms of labour dilution in time of war. The meeting also decided to apply for exemption of members of the union from service in the armed forces and for the recall of members now serving. The president declared that the union’s opposition to the dilution of labour would continue (ill all skilled labour had been absorbed.

RATIONING IN PARIS

(Received March 4, 7.30 p.m.) PARIS, March 3. Decrees regulating pastrycooks and limiting the amount of food which may be served in public eating places are to be enforced on March 11. An Istanbul message says that the Turkish Government has decided to introduce food rationing, beginning with sugar.