ITALY’S DESIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1936, Page 6

ITALY’S DESIRE

FOR 1 ‘GENTLEMEN’S AGREE-

MENT

BRITAIN, AND iMIfiDITERRANEAN

(United Press Association— By Electric 1 eitsgiaph—Copyright). ?

LONDON, November,»

“1 want a gentlemen’s agreement, with Englalid, ’’, ; said Signor Mussolini using English wprds- replying to Mr G. Ward Price, special correspondent of"the “Daily Mail’’ who, in an exclusive interview, 'sought 11 Duce s. reaction to the speech of , the British Foreign Secretary (]G- V ,A. Eden), j n ‘the .-House of Commons on November o. < Mr Price asked whether Signor Mussolini sought an agreement defining British Italian spheres of influence in the Mediterranean, or a non-aggression pact. Signor Mussolini swept away tljese ideas' with a wave of his hand } replying: Such things only lead to fresh complication.” Ido not want to aggravate The pact mania which has been raging, i contemplate a solution in as siinplo and clear a form as possible, suiting fascist Italy’s psychology and equally congenial to the British temperament. “British and Italian interests in theMediterranean are not antagonistic, but •complementary. Neither nation can afford hostility therein. The agreement should be bilateral, reciprocally protecting those interests, and also completely reassuring the other states bordering the Mediterranean. The finding of such a formula should not be difficult,, but a necessary prelude to "it is the new atmosphere, now coming into existence, justifying tho belief that a new page is being turned in the relations of Italy and. Britain.” Mr Price said that although the traditional British goodwill toward Italy was reasserting itself, many people were uneasy about Italian plans in the Mediterranean, some believing in the existence of a secret understanding' between Signor Mussolini' and General Franco, whereby Majorca would be transferred to Italy as a naval base in recognition of Italian sympathy in the Spanish civil, war. Signor Mussolini declared:. “The Majorca suggestion lias, not entered The threshold of'.Amr’ minds. Indeed. 1 would not respect a leader of . a nationalist movement , who .consul-, oral for a moment ’the possibility of giving away the country’s ten itor,\. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” emphasises that there is bet.-, tyr fueling*§ toward Britain.? because of ttieV treaty, the. British : withdrawal ’ of troops from Addis Abai>a, and fuller and accurate versions of Mr Eden’s speech.