PACT WITH ITALY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23175, 22 October 1938, Page 13

PACT WITH ITALY

EARLY RATIFYING BRIGHT PROSPECTS STATEMENT EXPECTED WITHDRAWAL FROM SI'ATN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Oct. 20 It is understood that the way has been cleared for implementing the treaty between Britain and Italy, says the Australian Associated Press. Roth Governments are taking measures to create a favourable atmosphere. An announcement will be made by Mr. Chamberlain immediately Parliament reassembles on November 1. At Naples vast crowds greeted 10,000 troops on arrival from Spain. King Victor Emmanuel took the salute on the march from the quay to the

station. He was accompanied by Crown Prince Umberto, Count Ciano, Foreign Minister, and Signor Starace, general secretary of the Fascist Party. Mr. R. A. Butler, Foreign UnderSecretary, summoned a meeting of all British shipowners engaged in trade with Spain. It is understood that he appealed for assistance in avoiding untoward incidents. He informed them that an official inquiry revealed that all bombings of British ships since the Munich meetings had not been deliberate. In each case ships were attacked within areas proclaimed as military zones by the loyalists. Also bombs were dropped from aeroplanes flying very high, making it impossible to distinguish the targets. The only case in recent months of deliberate piracy on the high seas was the attack on the freighter Stancroft on August 19.