ULTIMATUM DENIED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 166, 13 June 1940, Page 7

ULTIMATUM DENIED.

ITALY TO EGYPT. DIPLOMATIC BREACH. Received June 13, 10.30 a.m. LONDON, June 12. Both the British United Press and the Exchange Telegraph Company’s correspondents in Cairo say Italy is reported to have sent an ultimatum to Egypt. This is denied in Rome. There is no conlirmation, of the report -that the Italians are attacking towards Djibouti (French Somaliland) and Berbera (British Somaliland, in the Gulf of Aden). A Cairo message says the Chamber of Deputies nas approved tue Prime Minister’s declaration severing diplomatic relations with Italy. The Premier of Egypt (Aly Maher Pasha) in a statement to tne Press said the country was ready for any eventuality in iulfilling its obligations under the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, states a Cairo message. Cairo, sleeping its first night under tiie shadow of war, to life when motorised columns of Egyptian troops, tanks and commandeered taxis came out from police headquarters to round up Italians. A number were interned. The Suez Canal has already become a silent, deserted waterway. Only British warships patrolling the Mediterranean and the Rod Sea will henceforth pass through. The evacuation of 18,000 civilians from Alexandria and the port regions has begun. i MALTA WELL D 1 VENDED. The smallest damage was done at Malta as the result of the bombing, it is strongly delended by British and regular Maltese troops and also artillery and anti-aircraft guns. Two more air raids were made on Malta last night. Bombs were dropped but the raiders encountered heavy anti-aircraft lire. Sir Arturo Merc.'eca (Chief Justice of Malta and President of the Court of Appeal) has resigned his office. He was invited to do so by the Government, because of his alleged pro.ltalian leanings and the existence of "a state of war with itaiy. He has been described in the Italian Press as “tenacious to everything Italian.” A batch of evacuees from Malta and Gibraltar who have ‘arrived in England include 900 wives and children women who had never seen England of soldiers and sailors, also Spanish before.' IN ABYSSINIA. Italian white ’troops'for the last week have been moving from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawn witli strong tank equipment, states a message from Djbouti (French Somaliland). British and French troops under General Legenalhomme immediately took up pre-arranged positions. The morale of these troops is excellent. Frontier bridges between French Somaliland and ,Abj ssiina have been destroyed. Italian civilians in Djbouti are seeking French protection. Many hundreds of French women and children have been evacuated to Madagascar and French Indo-Chma. The Italians are reported to have executed Kas Hailu, a wealthy Abyssinian chief who joined the Italians during the Ethiopian war. Fiturari Birru has been appointed chief oi the Abyssinian Forces in Kenya. Italy economically is not an asset to Germany. Her overseas emp.re can easily be starved. She lias 200,(J0G white troops in . Libya, where there is already a water shortage, and also 50,000 to 80,000 in Abyssinia. The Abyssinian ; flag has again appeared oil buildings where the Em.peror's most faithful followers are -taking refuge (says a Jerusalem report). A preacher at the Abyssinian church triumphantly cried: “Our day has come. The British lion will reinstate the Lion of Judah” (Haile Selassie). ' \ A decree issued at Tirana announced that Albania considered herself at war with Britain-and France. The British Official Wireless says aii, ; interesting comment on the African view of Nazi conduct, has . recently bc-en made by the King of the Ashantis, which people rose against the British in 1900. In a speech de daring support for the Allies, the King of the Ashantis compares the conduct of the British after the rising ‘with that of the contemporary Nazis. , “AfteY the 1900 rising,’ lie said, “women and children were not .tortured, nor were refugees machinegunned, or chased by the English. But are we not aware of the excruciating tortures which the German Jews and the people of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Holland and Denmark are receiving at,the hands qt the Germans.'