BRITISH CONCERN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 96, 19 October 1935, Page 9

BRITISH CONCERN

FRENCH PRESS MESSAGES

EFFECTS ON ITALIAN VIEWS

LONDON, October 18. "The Times" publishes the following obviously inspired statement:—

"The Government views with concern the effects on Italian opinion of Press messages sent from Paris or from French correspondents elsewhere. These appear to have been largely responsible for the grotesque suggestion that Britain is seeking war with Italy. Constant insistence that every step taken collectively at Geneva is due to Mr. Eden's initiative has increased Italian suspicious that British policy aims at imposing upon Italy the choice between war and diplomatic humiliation. The result has been that anti-British feeling in Italy has been strengthened to a serious degree, and is said to have affected Signor Mussolini himself."

The Home correspondent of "The Times" says that London correspondents of Italian newspapers depict British opinion as steadily more hostile to Italy, which they declare now occupies in British eyes the position of Germany in 1914. British propaganda allegedly insists that world peace can only be saved by the elimination of Fascism. The correspondents further assert that covetous British Imperialism is neglecting no libel or other manoeuvre in order to destroy Fascism.

Meanwhile, M. Laval is warmly applauded for resisting Britain, especially attempts to scare him by threats of revising the Locarno Pact. Newspapers, recalling that October 16 was the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Locarno Pact, declare that the anniversary of the event hailed as the first postwar step towards understanding between the great Powers k«w now coincided with a fresh division between them. However attractive collective

security may seem, peace can only be guaranteed by direct agreements and permanent Confident contacts and collaboration between the States who are mainly interested and are capable of securing peace.