FRIENDSHIP AIMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19030, 2 June 1936, Page 7

FRIENDSHIP AIMS

QUEST OF ITALIANS RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN CHANGING' ROMAN VIEWS LESSENING OP HOSTILITY (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.l LONDON, June 1. Evidence is reaching London from all quarters of Italy’s anxiety to establish better relations with Britain before the League faces the accomplished fact of Italy’s conquest of Ethiopia, A reliable authority in Borne says that the atmosphere of optimism already created is accompanied by a marked drop of anti-British propaganda. It is difficult, however, to ascertain the facts on which the change is based, for there are no signs from London of any change in the Government’s policy against a bilateral agreement outside the League. There is one important factor, namely, Italy’s fears of the effects of Haile Selassie’s visit to London. Italy fears the fusion of the anti-Fascist passion in England and Franco and fears the influence of English religious opinion fanned by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s repeated denunciations. SUDDEN COURTSHIP

Finally it is concerned with the diminution of the Italian trade and of her gold reserve. These factors may be sufficient to account for Italy’s sudden courtship of Britannia. The Daily Mail’s Rome correspondent confirms the report of a wave of optimism there.

Italy's reorientation towards Britain is the subject of comment in the French press, states a message from Paris. “Pertinax” gives, the opinion that British rearmament is the reason for the change.

The Petit Parisian special correspondent, who has just returned from Rome, says: “In the last three weeks 1 have been witnessing a change. It is tow'ards London rather than towards Paris that the Italians are looking to-day. It is curious how sensitive is public opinion in Rome to the slightest influence.”

BRITONS DETAINED FOUR SERVICE FLYERS INCIDENT IN LIBYA LONDON, June 1. Tlie Foreign Office is investigating reports of the brutal treatment of Captain Walter Rogers, a leading Imperial Airways pilot and his crew of three. The Daily Herald says that Captain Rogers was flying a 38-senter Ranno plane to Cairo. There being no passengers for the service to the Near East, he landed at Mesylnm in Libya, and was immediately placed under an armed guard and his documents were seized. . The four men were quartered in an inadequate tent in the blazing sun, with armed native guards outside.

It is alleged that Captain Rogers and his crew were afterwards paraded as objects of derision at the bayonet point before Italian native troops. When the Hanno's papers were found to be perfectly in order, the Italians complained that the machine had been seen flying over a prohibited military area, which actually is the route that Italy chose for British machines to follow.

Captain Rogers was afterwards allowed to go to Cairo without explanation.

The incident is all the more astonishing as the Italian Government. Army Air Force is normally very friendly with British aviators.

CATHOLIC HIERARCHY PLANS FOR ETHIOPIA ROME, May 31. It is announced in Vatican circles that the Pope intends to establish a Catholic hierarchy in Abyssinia by the appointment of an archbishop with six or seven bishops.

VOYAGE OF SELASSIE TO STAY AT RITZ ' LONDON, June 1. A wireless message from the steamer Orford states that the Emperor of Abyssinia, Haile Selassie, who is voyaging to England, will stay at the Ilitz Hotel in London. He had tea in his suite with his family, and afterwards came on deck passing the Straits of Gibraltar and was formally received by the captain in the state room.