LONDON AND ROME OPEN NEGOTIATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23442, 24 February 1938, Page 5

LONDON AND ROME OPEN NEGOTIATIONS

MESSAGES FROM MUSSOLINI TO MR CHAMBERLAIN

TREND OF EVENTS VERY PLEASING TO ITALY

(United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 23, 11.40 p.m.)

LONDON, February 23. The general feeling in official Italian circles about the change at the British Foreign Office is one of profound satisfaction, says the Rome correspondent of The Times. . There is now a prospect of better relations between Britain and Italy and the possibility that the process of splitting Europe into two hostile blocs may be arrested. The British Ambassador to Rome (the Earl of Perth), who is going to London to see the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) is taking personal messages from Signor Mussolini and the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Gateazzo Ciano) to Mr Chamberlain reiterating Italy’s readiness and goodwill to reach an Anglo-Italian understanding, says the Rome correspondent of The Daily Mail. Mr Chamberlain’s speech in the House of Commons has aroused great interest, says the Rome correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. It is considered even more important to Italy than the resignation of the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden). The Berlin newspapers give great prominence to Mr Chamberlain’s statements about the League of Nations. Mr Winston Churchill, Mr Eden and Mr Harold Nicholson (National Labour) were among 20 Conservatives and other supporters of the Government who abstained from voting on the Labour motion of no-confidence in the Government, which was defeated by 330 votes to 168 votes.