ITALIAN ATTITUDE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 23 August 1935, Page 7

ITALIAN ATTITUDE

BRITISH STEPS EXPECTED? ACTS THAT WOULD BE THOUGHT HOSTILE RISK OF WORLD-WIDE WAR. /United Frees Association —By Electrlo Telegraph Copyright). Received 2 p.m. to-day. ROME, Aug. 22. Signor Gayda in the “Giomale d’ltalia” declares that Italy would regard as hostile acts Britain supplying arms to Abyssinia in violation of the agreement of 1930 pledging her supply of a limited quantity under special circumstances, adopting economic sanctions or closing the Suez Canal, which would he an intolerable violation of the 1888 convention.

Incendiary firemen in Britain, desiring to extinguish a small blaze, xvere throwing oil on a fire, risking a frightful -world-wide war, in which Italians would defend their rights and honour before the tribunal of history, he adds.

Sensing the changing atmosphere, Signor Gayda has dropped his threats against Britain in favour of persuasion. He traces the history of English and Italian vo-oper(rft;ion in Africa, leading up to the suggestion that Britain will benefit from Italian occupation of Abyssinia, which would ensure peace on the frontiers and the development of the country bordering three British possessions; hence the beneficial increase in reciprocal economic relations in these territories.

The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says Italy will definitely attend the League Council meeting on September 4, when the full facts of her case against Abyssinia will'be laid before the Council. Signor Mussolini has so decided because he is convinced the Council will then appreciate the incontrovertible nature of

Italy’s rightness and the integrity of her intentions. , The Italian Treasury account for July shows that expenditure on the East African expedition amounted to £6,250.000. The Budget deficit in July alone was £8,350,000. The public debt totals £1,771,000. NAZI SATISFACTION. Although the official German attitude is non-committal, Nazi satisfaction at the “imminent collapse’’, of the League system is not disguised, says the Berlin correspondent of ‘‘The Times.” The extremists believe war will further their plans. Though the fire-eaters’ expectation that it was enable Germany to occupy Austria before December is not likely to be realised, it is generally accepted that a war in Abyssinia, whatever the outcome, will weaken Italy and fully occupy England and France, possibly leading Britain to abandon the collective system in disgust.