ITALY AND BRITAIN
FRIENDLY RELATIONS New Ambassador to London FORMERLY MINISTER TO POLAND. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received Sept. 19, 8.20 p.m.) ROME, September 19. Signor Giuseppe Bastianini, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, has been appointed Ambassador in London in succession to Count Grandi. Signor Bastianini is regarded as one of Italy’s most brilliant diplomats. From 1932 to 1936 he was Italian Ambassador at Warsaw, and he has an intimate knowledge of Polish affairs.
COUNT CIANO CONFERS WITH BRITISH AMBASSADOR. LONDON, September 19. There was great diplomatic activity at the Italian Foreign Office at Rome to-day. The Foreign Minister, Count Ciano conferred at length with the British Ambassador, Sir Percy Lorraine. Later he saw the French' and Rumanian Ministers to Italy. WELSH COAL FOR ITALY LONDON, September 18. From Welsh ports coal is being shipped in large quantity to Italy, as was usual prior to the outbreak of war. LONDON, September 19. The Primate of Poland (Cardinal Hlond) has been summoned to the Vatican. To-day he was received in audience by Pope Pius XII and the Cardinal Secretary of State, Cardinal Maglione. The Vatican is particularly concerned with the state of Poland owing to its large Catholic population. ITALY’S INTENTION (Received Sept. 19, 9.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 18. The Rome correspondent of the New York “Times” says: Signor Bastianini’s appointment to London is regarded as the clearest indication that not only is Italy determined to remain neutral, but also that she wishes to remain friendly with Britain.
Roumania in Jeopardy ALLIED BLOCKADERS’ gigantic TASK [British Official Wireless.] NEW YORK, September 18. The “New York Times” Rome correspondent says: Italy is so steeled in her neutrality that even the Russian invasion of Poland has been without the slightest outward effect. Yet it is certain that it has added to the country’s grave anxieties regarding ability to remain neutral, for it now seems clear that the war will quickly reach the Balkans. It is already authoritatively reported that the Germans are massing troops on the Slo-vak-Roumanian border, and none will be surprised if Roumania is invaded very shortly. It is now taken for granted that England and France will declare war on Russia. It is also felt that Turkey will find the gravest difficulties in maintaining her alliance with England.
It is highly doubtful that even a Russian and German invasion of Roumania, with the Soviet seizing Bessarabia? would alter Italy’s firm decision to stay out of the war. The correspondent says: If, and when, Yugoslavia and Hungary are brought into the ever-widening war flood Italy’s position will be extraordinarily difficult. It is against every historical tradition that Italy should countenance German and Russian penetration in the Balkans, but the fact remains that the Axis is still in official existence, and it is inconceivable that Italy should attack Germany now. 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 1 against the Soviet. They see virtually the whole European Continent, except France, either warring 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.
Scandinavan Powers ECONOMIC NEUTRALITY DIFFICULT. (Received September 19, 10.0 p.m.). COPENHAGEN, September 18. The Foreign Ministers of Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway have conferred on the question of neutrality. The Norwegian Foreign Minister M. Koht, said he was confident that the Nordic nations’ neutrality would be respected. He added that it would be more difficult to maintain their economic neutrality. All of the Ministers sharply contested the German implication that Britain has threatened Scandinavian neutrality.
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Grey River Argus, 20 September 1939, Page 9
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610ITALY AND BRITAIN Grey River Argus, 20 September 1939, Page 9
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