ITALIAN ARMY

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1939, Page 7

ITALIAN ARMY

NEW CHIEF OF STAFF MARSHAL GRAZIANI’S POST [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.) LONDON, October 31. A reshuffle of Cabinet and other official posts was announced in Rome this morning. Marshal Graziani, who is at present Viceroy of Abyssinia, become Chief of the General Staff of the Army, and Signor Archille Starace. general secretary of the Fascist Party, has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Fascist Militia. Signor Dino Alfieri, Minister for Culture and Enlightenment, has resigned from the Cabinet, and is to be appointed an Ambassador.

Signor Attilio Terruzzi, Under-Secre-tary for Italian Africa, enters the Cabinet as Minister for Italian Africa, a portfolio hitherto held by Signor Mussolini himself.

Signor Ettoire Muti, 37, replaces Signor Starace as Secretary-General of the Fascist Party. Other new Ministers are Signor Ricci, Corporations: Signor Pavolini,l Popular Culture; Signor Riccardo, i Currency and Exchange; Signor En-1 turie. Communications; Signor Tass-• inari, Agriculture; Signor Serena, j Public Works; Signor Pricolo, Chief of the Air Staff; General Soddu. | Under-Secretary for War. i Marshal Graziani’s appointment M the Army General Staff presumably, follows the removal of the present Chief of Staff (General Pariani). In the negotiations preceding the ItalianGerman militarj' alliance which was', announced on May 10. General Paria-i ni took part in military staff talks atj Innsbruck with General Keitel, Chief of the German High Command, and Field-Marshal Goering.

Signor Mussolini is apparently turning to the moderates, who are opposed to Communism. Some of those displaced. like Signor Starace, were sympathetic to Germany.

NEUTRALITY STRENGTHENED ; LONDON, October 31; The British United Press Rome correspondent states that the reshuffle'appears to strengthen Italy’s neutrality. The new Ministers are all experts, well suited to a vigorous policy of international trade diplomacy, for which neutrality is most desirable. , Many people consider that the removal of Signor Altieri and Signor Starace heralds a drift from the axis. The German radio announced the Italian reshuffle, quoting Italian quarters that it does not affect II Duce’s traditional policy. '

GERMAN AMBASSADOR RECALLED

ROME, October 31.

The. German Ambassador. Herr von Macke nsc.n. has been recalled to Berlin, "on an important mission.” . ,

BRITAIN AND ALBANIA, t

LONDON, October 31. '

Britain has asked Italy to permit of the appointment of a British Cofi-sul-Ge.nerai at Tirana, where administrative. difficulties, which have, been considerable since Italy took over. Albania. have increased owing to the war.

Mr. Chamberlain, in the Commons, said it was proposed to appqint. Mr. Graftey Smith to be Consul-General in Albania, in succession to Sir Andrew Ryan.

ITALY AND GREECE.

NON-AGGRESSION PACT

RUGBY, October 31. It is learnt in London that a non-

aggression pact between Italy -and Greece will be signed shortly. ' informed circles in London feel that the agreement will have a stabilising influence in the Mediterranean. As such, it is welcomed here. ’ ■

When the details are published, -it was expected that they will prove to be largely a reaffirmation of the similar agreement between the two countries. in 1928. It is understood that Britain has been informed of the negotiations that, have been taking place between .Italy and Greece.