JARRING NOTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 9

JARRING NOTE

ITALY UNFRIENDLY GREAT EVENT IGNORED CORRESPONDENTS WITHDRAWN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May !>, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, May 8 "The notorious Ras Tafari" (Haili Selassie's name before he -succeeded to the Throne of Ethiopia in 1930) "and other brigands will replace Italy at the British Coronation," says Signor Farinacci, in an article in the official Fascist newspaper. "Italians who are thinking of going to London," adds the writer, "should realise that we will make things pretty unpleasant for them. "If they are curious, they had best see the Coronation at a cinema it will cost them less money and less shame." It is officially stated that owing to the "hostile attitude of most of the British press toward Italy," all British newspapers are banned from Italy except the Daily Mail, the Evening News and the Observer, all Italian correspondents are being withdrawn from London and the Coronation is to be ignored. It is rumoured that some British correspondents are to be expelled from Italy. This is the culmination of fresh anti-British feeling arising from reports of Italian defeats in Spain. Signor Mussolini's order creates fresh acute tension between Italy and Britain. II Duce has never been so bitter against Britain as now. It is recalled that not even during the height of the Abyssinian differences, when the British Fleet was occupying the Mediterranean in great strength, did Italy act against British newspapers or affect Italian correspondents. La Tribuna says the withdrawal of correspondents from London and the prohibition of British newspapers is not a reprisal but "a gesture of dignity as the British newspapers have disregarded the gentlemen's agreement and have been slandering Italy and creating new, and extending existing, misunderstandings." The paper adds: "The Italian people are wounded by the vile insinuations against the brave Italian Legionaries in Spain who are lighting to prevent the Bolslievisation of Europe." RECALL DENIED JOURNALISTS IN LONDON (Received May 9, 6.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 8 Several Italian journalists interviewed in London deny that they have been recalled to Italy. Nevertheless they are going home this week-end. Some pleaded personal reasons and others business reasons. All expressed the opinion that they would return after the Coronation. GOWN FOR CEREMONY DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER JEWELS AS DECORATIONS LONDON, May 7 Crowds of women surrounded the windows of a West End modiste, where the Duchess of Gloucester's Coronation dress was displayed. It took 11 weeks to cut and make. The foundation material is cream satin, with a panel round it« square decolletage continuing down the front. The panel is embroidered in a palm leaf design of pearls and diamonds. The entire gown is embroidered with feathers, each of which is decorated with pearls, crystals, diamonds and topazes. It has short sleeves of cream gauze. The train is of ermine and velvet. NATIONAL ANTHEM « NEW ZEALAND VERSION LORD BLEDISLOE FAVOURS LONDON, May 7 The former Governor-General of New Zealand, Viscount Bledisloe, in a letter to the Times, urges that from the date of the Coronation Britons should sing the National Anthem as it is sung with loyal enthusiasm throughout New Zealand, substituting the word "our" for "the" in the third and last lines of each verse. Lord Bledisloe adds: "After joining my fellow-subjects on the other side of the world for five happy years in singing the proposed version, I am conscious of a slight loss of my sense of proprietorship and greater spiritual affinity attaching to persons and things when relegated to the more impersonal 'the.' "The Sovereign is admittedly a great personal link for the Empire. His friendly contact with his people was never closer or more sympathetic. Consequently, if he is in a most real sense 'Our King.' why not sing of him as such?"