ASSEMBLY SCENE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22461, 3 July 1936, Page 11

ASSEMBLY SCENE

ITALIANS IN PRISON

ALL TO BE EXPELLED

PROTESTS BY ITALY

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright GENEVA, July 1

In consequence of yesterday's disturbances at the meeting of the Assembly of the League the police took special precautions to exclude possible demonstrators from the galleries this morning. The Italian journalists who were arrested yesterday for causing a scene when Haiti Selassie rose to speak spent the night in the cells at the Stanton prison. The Swiss Government lias decided not to prosecute the journalists but # to liavo them conducted to the frontier and expelled from Switzerland for tho duration of the Assembly. Tho Italian Minister has protested and requested that they he given a reasonable interval before expulsion, also that the point to which they aro conducted shall be that nearest to Italy. They are at present comfortable in prison where they are consuming quantities of macaroni.

Signor Scoppa, Italian delegate to the League, has informed M. Motta, Swiss Foreign Minister, that unless tho journalists are immediately released the tension between Italy and the League will become more acute.

At the opening of to-day's sitting of the Assembly the newly-elected president. Dr. van Zeeland (Belgium) said lie deplored profoundly the regrettable incidents of yesterday and warned those in the galleries that if there were any disturbances lie would instantly liavo the offenders removed.

OUTCRY IN ROME

JOURNALISTS PRAISED

MESSAGES FROM MINISTER

ROME, July 1

The Minister of Press Propaganda, Signor Alfieri. has sent a message of sympathy to the journalists imprisoned in Switzerland. He promises support for them and says they have been sent to prison as' malefactors merely for showing unrestrainable disdain in the face of a grave insult to their country, which was guilty only of bringing its age-old civilisation to a barbarian Empire.

Signor Alfieri in a later message stated that tho journalists' gesture was "a spontaneous reaction to the sight of delegates applauding the former sovereign of a country where so many atrocities had been committed. It was not premeditated." The Government might or might not agree with that, but the Minister said his previous message expressed the feeling of the whole of the Italian people. Moreover, the journalists' disapproval took the foim of whistling and booing in a theatre in which it was always permissible to clap. Signor Gayda, editor of II Giornale d'ltalia, says Europe has dishonoured herself in disapproving of the jeers of the journalists, which were those of 45,000.000 Italians. He strongly resents M. Titulescu's comments.

A torchlight procession was held in Rome in honour of the " Geneva prisoners." Other Italian newspapers describe the incidents at Geneva as " the inevitable consequence of provocation which the presence of the Negus had given." 11 Messaggero indignantly denounces the " violence and brutality " shown to the journalists for their " legitimate protest."

Signor Umberto Gugielmotti, national secretary of the Fascist Union of Journalists, has congratulated the imprisoned men, assuring them of their colleagues' solidarity. He has summoned other Italian branches to support them.

FRENCH OPINION

DISTURBERS BLAMED

EMPEROR'S SPEECH HURTS

PARIS, July 1

The French press unanimously deplores the behaviour of the Italian journalists and also considers that the Emperor's speech created a distressing impression. Le Journal says it was the most humiliating speech ever heard by the British and French Governments, and was especially humiliating to France.

OPINIONS DIFFER

QUESTION OF SANCTIONS

SOUTH AFRICA AND CANADA

GENEVA, July 1 Speaking on the Italo-Abyssinian question at this afternoon's meeting of tho League Assembly, Mr. C. T. te Water (South Africa) said the Union could not subscribe to a declaration to the world which would shatter for generations international confidence and all hope of realising world peace. South Africa was prepared to maintain sanctions against Italy, which course alone would maintain the League as"an instrument for tho security of its members.

Mr. Vincent Massey (Canada) said his Government's view was that a continuance of sanctions would be ineffective. Economic pressure would not secure the original objective.