ITALIAN HATRED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22743, 2 December 1935, Page 9

ITALIAN HATRED

DIRECTED AGAINST ENGLANDf SKILFUL PROPAGANDA (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, November 29. * The Sun-Herald says that the name of England is every day growing more hated in Italy, where skilful propaganda is being directed to foment and intensify English antipathy. England is even blamed for the serious depletion of Italy’s public coffers, into which the people are pouring gold in an hysterical response to a national appeal, though doubtless a section is influenced by the fact that the Government is paying a premium of 25 per cent, over the standard rate as a bonus to citizens helping the State in a time of need. The Government tells the people that sanctions, not war, are draining the national purse, which continues to spill out millions on the Abyssinian venture. Sanctionists, of whom Britain is represented as the evil genius, are proving an excellent scapegoat for the financial position. “ Sanctions ” is a cry covering a multitude of expenditures. People of every class are giving up cherished trophies and heirlooms and their fortunes and savings. The thing has become a crusade. The Italians do not stop to reflect on the real causes of the situation. MR SHAW'S PROTEST ROME, November 29. Mr Shaw’s protest against the preference given his plays in Italy was inspired by the official announcement: — “ Shaw is the most brilliant and antiBritish of all living British dramatists.” GENEVA'S PEACE EFFORTS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, November 29. M. Yasconcellos has sum moped .the Committee of Eighteen to meet at Geneva on December 12. M. Yasconcellos desired to fix the meeting for the sth, but the French Prime Minister, who wishes to attend in person, made an urgent request to him to delay the meeting for a week, by which time M. Laval hopes that the .political situation in France will enable him to leave Paris. A STRICTER CENSORSHIP ASMARA, November-29. Marshal Badoglio has imposed a stricter censorship, prohibiting the mention of individual names, including his own. He declared that he would hold correspondents .responsible for what papers published. MORE ITALIAN TROOPS ROME, November 29. (Received Dee. 1, at 5.5 p.m. On the eve of the vital - Cabinet meeting 50,000 non-commissioned officers and men of the military and police forces were called to the colours. Four transports, carrying 7C68 soldiers, passed through the Suez canal bound for Abyssinia, and 2231 men returned during the past week. PROPOSED OIL SANCTIONS HOSTILE OR UNFRIENDLY LONDON, November 30. (Received Dec. 1, at 8.30 p.m.) The Telegraph’s Paris correspondent says: “Italian circles now assert that Baron Cerutti was never instructed to declare that Italy whuld regard the enforcement of oil sanctions as a hostile act. It is pointed out that what was really meant was that such a measure would eventually be regarded as a profoundly, unfriendly act. There is a wide gulf between a hostile act and an unfriendly act. This indication of a (possible change in the Italian attitude may be due to the fact that M. Laval has at last succeeded in convincing Signor Mussolini that in the event of an Italian attack France and Britain would be closely united.” The Times Paris correspondent says: “ Most newspapers now accept the prospect of an oil embargo as inevitable, but share the hope that such a threat to success in the Abyssinian adventure will bring Signor Mussolini to reason.” The Times Rome correspondent says “It has been semi-officially stated,that there has been no movements of Italian troops towards the French-Italian frontier. Any military moves have not been of extraordinary importance. It accordingly appears that the mysterious movements occurred in Libya. There is now a slightly more hopeful feeling.” The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says: “A Ministerial Committee, including Mr Neville Chamberlain, Mr Walter Runciman, Sir John Simon, Sir Samuel Hoare, and Captain Eden, examined the proposed oil sanctions, and null report to a special Cabinet meeting on December 2. It is understood that the Ministers strongly support further League collective action to hasten the end of hostilities.” SCRAP METAL AS MONEY ROME, November 30. (Received Dee. 1, at 8.30 p.m.) The largest picture palace in Rome followed the example of a patriotic kinema owner, who accepts scrap metal for the Government in lieu of the price of admission. People streamed in with flat irons, utensils, and crowbars, children bringing scooters and tricycles. An adult handed in an old crock motor car, which was proudly parked at the entrance hall placarded “ We do not care a hang for sanctions.” The entire collection will be handed over to the Government, even including stolen goods. Although the Italian Cabinet, presided over by Signor Mussolini, is believed to have considered oil sanctions, a communique did not refer to' it but simply stated that the Cabinet approved of a recommendation from Signor Mussolini for an expansion of the Supreme Committee of National Defence, Some Italian newspapers arc talking of a French-Italian-German understanding to resist “ British domination.” Well-informed circles declare that unless the BritishItalian tension is relaxed something will burst. The average Italian believes that the invasion of Egypt is certain if oil and metal sanctions are enforced. BRITAIN AND FRANCE 9 PARIS, November 30. (Received Dec. 1, at 0 p.m.) L’Oeuvre states that Mr Stanley Baldwin considers that a conference with M. Laval is essential before December 12 to co-ordinate British and French action. Most newspapers consider that an oil embargo would expedite peace. Le Journal points out that even if Signor Mussolini were tempted to rashness, a lack of oil would make a European conflict impossible.

NO APPREHENSION IN EGYPT ALEXANDRIA, November 30. (Received Dec. 1, at 9 p.m.) • Tiie authorities are not the least apprehensive of an Italian attack on Egypt, which, if it eventuated, would take the form of a simultaneous advance by two columns from Libya. The northern column, on the coast road, would be liable to heavy lire from British warships. The southern would not encounter resistance as far as Mersamatruh, but would bo subject to aircraft bombing. Even if it carried' Mersamatruh, which is heavily fortified, it would encounter a mile of intersected trenches and have to pass the bottleneck of Borgelarab, only two miles Avide and bounded by marshes and sea, raked bv machine-gun and artillery fire. Correspondents recently returned from Libya report that the Italian morale is very low, as the troops are convinced that an attack on Egypt would be suicide in face of the formidable defences. RESISTANCE TO SANCTIONS LONDON, November 30. (Received Dec. 1, at 11 p.m.) The Sunday Times Rome correspondent says: The expansion of the Supreme Committee of National Defence, on which Cabinet has decided, indicates that Signor Mussolini intends to weld resistance to sanctions into a nation-wide movement affecting every branch of output and consumption. The committee in future will be an instrument for general mobilisation. Thus the Ministers of Justice, Education, Public Works, and Propaganda, have been included as deliberative members because, first, legal questions enter into the vast anti-sanctions campaign; secondly, Signor Mussolini attaches extreme importance to the education of-yonth in resistance of sanctions and the righteousness Of Italy’s cause; thirdly, the necessity of organising employment for those rendered idle by the cessation of imports of raw material. The reasons for including the Minister for Propaganda are obvious. Additional members of the committee include army marshals, high admirals, the air marshal, and the chief of the Fascist militia. This is intended as a warning to the world that Italy is prepared forcibly to resist anything approaching military sanctions. The committee has decided to extend the Military Secrets Act to employees of concerns carrying out military contracts. It also intends to improve marksmanship by ordering all males to join rifle clubs after military service, expend millions in developing Albanian oil resources, increase the production of gold and cement in Eritrea, fish, olives, hemp, and other crops in Italy, and grant pensions to Avar Avidows and orphans. “AN UNFRIENDLY ACT ” GENEVA, November 30. (Received Dec. 1, at 11 p.m.) Signor Scoppa, the permanent Italian delegate, called on riicmbcrs of the Committee of Eighteen, excluding those reppresenting Britain and France, and intimated that Italy Avould regard a vote for an oil embargo as an unfriendly act. BRITISH CABINET MEETINGS LONDON, November 30, (Received Dec. 1, at 11 p.m.) Commentators point out that two of the most important Cabinet meetings, possibly affecting Europe’s future, will be held Avithin 24 hours. Britain, on December 2, is expected to decide her attitude torvards oil sanctions, although the outcome admittedly depends on whether members of the League and nonLeague members support the embargo. Attempts at a settleemnt continue in Paris. Le Soir reports that M. Laval saAV Signor Cerutti and endeavoured to obtain an idea of Signor Mussolini’s demands and intentions. Meanwhile it is expected that the tension will be somewhat eased by the report from Rome that the Government, following a conference of Anglo-Italian bankers, promised a supreme effort to liquidate British “ frozen ” credits, estimated at £2,000,000, and due under the AngloItalian trade agreement before sanctions were imposed. This is considered tantamount to Italy calling off the moratorium payments to Britain imposed after sanctions. Britain has been expecting Italy to use the money to purchase raAV materials abroad.