FULL RESPECT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 11

FULL RESPECT

GREEK SECURITY ITALIANS' OFFER KING'S PRECAUTION EMERGENCY DECREE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Eecoived April 12, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, April 12 It is reported from Athens that a semi-official version of the Italian assurances to Greece reads: "Italy confirms her intention to respect absolutely Greece's territorial integrity. Italy wishes to maintain and further develop the cordial friendship binding Italy and Greece, and is willing to give concrete proof of this desire."

A Hungarian report from Budapest, however, says the Kiug of Greece is reported to have signed a decree, which has not yet been published, declaring a state of emergency and calling up 10 classes of reservists. The decree will be proclaimed in event of an emergency arising. It is authoritatively stated that Greece has informed Britain and France that she will resist any aggression, says a despatch from Athens. The Greek Cabinet has decided to co-operate fully in the British and French guarantee to Greece. The Daily Express says the Rumanian Foreign Minister, Dr. Gafencu, signed an agreement at Ankara under which Turkey agrees to open the Dardanelles for the passage of foreign warships going to the assistance of Rumania.

STATE OF STRAIN ALL EUROPE AFFECTED BRITISH MINISTERS BUSY KING SEES CHAMBERLAIN British Wireless LONDON. April 11 The King returned from Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace this evening for a few hours and gave Mr. Chamberlain an audience. The Foreign Affairs Committee of Cabinet held another meeting this afternoon. It was attended by the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, Sir John Simon, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Viscount Halifax, Foreign Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, Home Secretary, Sir Thomas Inskip, Dominions Secretary, Mr. Oliver Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, and Mr. W. S. Morrison, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, while Sir Alexander Cadogan, Permanent Foreign Under-Secretary, was also present.

Earl Stanhope, First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Hore-Belisha, Secretary for War, Sir Kingsley Wood, Secretary for Air, and Lord Chatfield, Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, together with Mr. W. S. Morrison, who is assisting Lord Chatfield in defence co-ordination questions, were in conference earlier to-day at the offices of the Committee of Imperial Defence. In addition to these meetings Ministerial consultations arising out of the international situation created by the Italian occupation of Albania included an interview this morning between Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Halifax, who previously had received M. Maisky, Soviet Ambassador.

According to press messages the Ministerial and diplomatic activity in London has been paralleled in other capitals, particularly in Paris, where there is reported to have been a meeting of the French Cabinet. The newspapers give some prominence to agency telegrams regarding measures taken in a number of countries which would appear to bo of a precautionary character. These refer, for example, to the curtailment of Army leave in France and the manning of frontier posts in Holland.

There is at present no official confirmation in London of many of these reported steps, which, it is pointed out, while they have no special significance which could cause alarm, are indicative of the state of strain which has resulted in every part of Europe from the fresh blow to confidence administered by Italy in Albania.