Italy Doing Big Trade With Allies

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1940, Page 4

Italy Doing Big Trade With Allies

Italy is doing a large business with Britain and France on a cash basis, which is regarded as a favourable omen for Italy’s future attitude toward the Allies.

A strong warning against acceptance of rumours that Italy and Germany are united in secretly supplying armaments to Hungary and Finland for the purpose of blocking Russian expansion is given by the Rome correspondent of the "Sunday Times”:—

“German propaganda,” writes the correspondent, "at present is busier than ever trying to revive the old story that Germany is seeking to collaborate with Britain and France in defeating the Red menace. The latest attempts are stories that the Germans refuelled Italian warplanes supplied to

Finland, also that Germany permitted the passage of tanks and mechanised units from Italy for service on the Hungarian-Russian frontier. It is Germany’s oldest and crudest propaganda.”

The "Sunday Times” , adds: “Such a propaganda atmosphere makes Italy’s task of preserving her neutrality more difficult. Certain Nazis microscopically scan Italian newspapers and complain if German news is not given sufficient prominence. "On the other hand, Italy is doing a large cash and carry business with Britain and France, while cash has not been a prominent feature of trade between Italy arid Germany. It is heartening that Italy has received a £5,000,000 order for steel containers from France just at a time when Italy needs money. It is a favourable sign, in view of further rumours that Italy is contemplating ‘great, far-reaching decisions' in. the spring.”