ITALY'S REACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 150, 28 June 1938, Page 11

ITALY'S REACTION

BARCELONA THREAT WARNING OF PROMPT REPLY '"GUNS, NOT NOTES" United Press Association—By Elcctric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received June 28, 9 a.m.) PARIS, June 27. French opinion is preoccupied with Italy's reaction to the Barcelona Government's threats of reprisals, but it is believed that the situation is becoming easier. Press comment follows party lines, but agrees with the necessity for urging moderation upon Spain and Italy. Hie Italian Charge d'Affaires warned the Quai d'Orsay that if Italian ships in ports held by General Franco are attacked the reaction will be prompt and effective. The publicist Signor Yirginio Gayda states that if Italian and German ships and goods are harmed the implacable reaction will not be ; notes but guns. BETTER RELATIONS FRANCE AND ITALY DESIRE BY BRITAIN ; (British Official Wireless.) (Received June 28, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, June 27. The Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs told the House of Commons at question time that his Majesty's Gov- , ernment would welcome an improvement in tne relations between France and Italy, such as might be expected to follow the resumption of the negotiations between the two countries, and he said that the Italian Government was fully aware of the British Government's views on this matter. At the same time, Mr. Butler said it would be appreciated that it was a matter which could only be settled between the two parties concerned. NO REPLY YET NOTE TO FRANCO COMMONS MORE UNEASY (Received June 28, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, June 27. The Australian Associated Press says that the Prime Minister has now waited for four days for a reply from General Franco, through the British Agent in Spain, Sir Robert Hodgson, in connection with recent bombings. The only reply so far has been three further bombings, considerably intensifying the uneasiness in the House of Commons, where pressure may yet force Mr. Chamberlain to act. Replying to a question in the House of Commons, Mr. Chamberlain stated that the Government did not desire to encourage the mounting of antiaircraft guns on British merchantmen. In any case, it would require structural alterations. A REPLY APPROVED (Received June 28, 10.30 a.m.) BARCELONA, June 27. Senor Del Vayo informed Cabinet of the Note on the question of aerial bombardment received from Britain on June 25, and Cabinet approved a reply to the Note. FURTHER BOMBINGS BRITISH SHIPS AT VALENCIA AND ALICANTE (Received June 28, 9 a.m.) VALENCIA, June 27. The British steamer Arlon was bombed from the air and set on fire. One member of the crew was killed. Insurgent planes also bombed the British steamer Farnham, anchored at The Arlon was attacked by five planes which dropped 50 bombs simultaneously. The Arlon was towed out to sea blazing furiously. Some civilians living nearby were killed. Six planes participated in the bombing of the Farnham while the vessel was unloading a cargo of foodstuffs. Three British sailors were killed and two Spanish stevedores injured. The Farnham was badly holed below the waterline, but nevertheless dockers are feverishly unloading the cargo as the ship sinks. PLANE SHOT DOWN "EL SOLITARIO" (Received June 28, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 27. The Barcelona correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that a lone Savoia seaplane which the loyalists had christened "El Solitario," possibly identical with the mystery aircraft which dogged the British steamer Gloxinia, was shot down with its crew of five near Tarragona, after a fortnight's harrying of shipping and machine-gunning roads. GERMANY AND ITALY PURPOSE IN SPAIN SURVEY OF SITUATION In a survey of the situation in Spain a month ago the diplomatic correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" writes: The belief that the Spanish Government is on the verge of final defeat has waned in Rome and in Berlin, as it has here and in Paris. Opinion now differs widely as to the time the civil war will last. The Germans and Italians wish to cut off all the sources by which the Spanish Government is supplied from abroad. To do so they will have to establish a blockade, or the equivalent of a blockade, by land and sea, and that would appear to be impossible [without intensified and open intervention. Germany and Italy desire the rapid defeat of the Spanish Government so I that they can establish themselves in the whole of Spain, especially, in Cata-