SANCTIONS ORDERED

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4640, 16 May 1938, Page 3

SANCTIONS ORDERED

AGAINST MILAN PAINT FIRM. London, March 30. Mr. Geoffrey Mander, the Liberal M.P. for Wolverhampton East, one of the most tireless cross-examiners of Ministers at question time in the House of Commons, has incurred the wrath of Signor Mussolini. Mr. Mander is a member of the firm of Mander Bros., varnish and colour manufacturers, of Wolverhampton, which, according to the Duce’s organ, Popolo d’ltalia, has a branch in Milan.'

Mr. Mander, at the time of the sanctions campaign, urged a boycott of Italy; now Signor Mussolini, through his newsmpe; , bids Italians boycott Mr. Mander’s business in Italy.

The newspaper describes Mr. Mander as “an orator who hurls brainless accusations against Fascist Italy and at the same time is always doing his utmost to make Italian lire by means of his paint shop in the via Giovanni Cantoni, 7 Milan.” The Popolo accuses Mr. Mander of making speeches in the House of Commons calling upon the British Government to close the Suez Canal, demanding that sanctions be enforced on Italy, and, after the Abyssinian campaign, insisting on continuing the “economic siege” against Italy. “This is true democratic policy—that is to say, a dirty policy—to attack a nation and then make plentiful gains asking these “pirates” to buy his paints. We call upon Mr. Mander’s Italian clients not to have such an enemy of their country make profit out of Italian money.” Mr. Mander said last night: “The article in Popolo d’ltalia is based on a misunderstanding. “In the past I have, as a member of Parliament, ventured to criticise Italian foreign policy, and the Italians have criticised our foreign policy, but exaggerated reports have been published in Italy. It is false to say I have a grudge against Italy.

“It looks as though what the Italians are now trying to do is to apply sanctions to me.”