FASCIST SALUTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 198, 22 July 1937, Page 9

FASCIST SALUTE.

NO TROUBLE AT CONCERT. • AUDIENCE CORDIAL. SYDNEY, July 21. Nothing untoward occurred at Signor Tito Schipa’s final concert at the Town Hall to-night other than an unintelligible interjection from the gallery. The great audience received Signor Schipa with marked cordiality. He saluted in the Fascist manner several times, led the singing of the National Anthem, kissed file Italian and Australian flags, and finally saluted the organist. Signor Schipa, interviewed before the concert, described Alderman Grant as vulgar and crude in his criticisms. Mr Grant replied that Signor Schipa’s determination to give the Fascist salute at all costs at his concerts proved that he rates politics higher than art. His insistence on ramming Fascism dow'n the . throats of democratically-minded people, .was execrable taste from a foreign visitor. The Acting-ltalian Consul did not advise Signor Schipa, but lelt the question of the salute to his own conscience.

He, however, said he failed to see why the Roman salute, a national gesture of appreciation for applause given a singer, should create offence. APPROVAL FROM ROME. ADMIRATION FOR SINGER. Received July' 22, 10.0 a.m. ROME, July 21.. The Government spokesman said that the Lord Mayor of Sydney was evidently ignorant of the elementary principles of hospitality. Signor Schipa did the right thing, as a real Italian should at anv time and any place in the world. He added: “We have unbounded admiration for Signor Schipa.”