ITALY ANGRY AT FRANCE

Southland Times, Issue 23513, 20 May 1938, Page 5

ITALY ANGRY AT FRANCE

Mussolini Impatient For Victory ATTEMPTS TO SPLIT PARIS AND LONDON THREAT TO BRITISH PACT WITH ROME (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received May 20, 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, May 19. The Australian Associated Press learns that communications have reached Downing Street in the last few hours which indicate that Europe faces another crisis—again over Spain. The central figure is Signor Mussolini, who is angry because General Franco has not yet won and is now further hampered by the French refusal to close the Pyrenees fron-| tier. It is understood that the British Cabinet discussed the situation today.

It appears that II Duce, in accordance with the thesis that dictators are always right, is uncompromising towards the French. A sequel to France’s attitude, it is feared, may be the despatch of Italian reinforcements to Spain. This threatens the Anglo-Italian agreement. Anxiety about the course of French relations with Italy is based on the conviction that II Duce is attempting to drive a wedge between Britain and France, under which Britain cannot be passive.

It is considered that if Britain joins the French against the dictators, making the Anglo-Italian agreement not worth the paper it is written on, the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) will have to face an outcry to the effect that Mr R. A. Eden, the former Foreign Secretary, was right, which might be a fatal blow to the Government. France’s dilemma is equally serious. Her Government is not strong, and cannot close the Pyrenees frontier because of pressure from the Left; and pressure from the Right prevents increased intervention. Moreover, if the French Government attempts to close the frontier its action will be followed by street disturbances and “stay-in” : trikes. Meanwhile arms and aeroplanes are no'.v reaching General Franco in such a way that it is impossible for the nonintervention officials to check them. FOUR REASONS Signor Mussolini’s irritation is ascribed to four reasons:— (1) The Italian, public’s lack of enthusiasm during Herr Hitler’s visit to Rome. (2) His feeling that in spite of the Anglo-Italian agreement sections of the British Press are still antagonistic to Italy. (3) His anger because the Spanish Government has not yet fallen. • (4) His ’ annoyance over the American Secretary for War’s speech against the dictators. The diplomatic correspondent of The Manchester Guardian says that Signor Mussolini’s speech at Genoa was one of the most menacing he has yet delivered. In it he threatens the Western Powers with disaster and not only attempts to drive a wedge between Britain and France but makes a demonstration of renewed German and Italian solidarity in a firm resolve to secure General Franco’s victory and establish themselves permanently in Spain. “The speech imperils the AngloItalian agreement, which is meaningless unless the Italians withdraw from Spain,” says the correspondent. “Certain British quarters attempt to excuse Il Duce’s action, saying that he must be certain of General Franco’s victory before he can dissolve the Berlin-Rome axis. This is entirely disingenuous, but there is reason to fear that it will be used not only to justify the speech, but to cover intensified Italian and German intervention, which may even become quite open.” The French Press unanimously underlines the threat to the AngloItalian agreement in the hitch in the French negotiations with Italy. Petit Journal says: “If Germany and Italy do not recognize that the chief aim of non-intervening by Britain and France is to let the Spaniards settle their own problem, then the AngloItalia agreement will be a dead letter.” Le Populaire says: “Having obtained satisfaction in London and at Geneva over Abyssinia, Signor Mussolini wants to win the second round in Spain by playing on a British disagreement with France.” NO WAR MATERIAL The French Foreign Office denies an allegation that Russian and Czech war material is going to Spain through France or that the French General Staff assisted the Republicans to prepare their defences. The Quai d’Orsay also denies that Signor Mussolini demanded that France should recognize a rebel victory. After a partial lull for three weeks the insurgents again launched an attack between Teruel and the sea and claim advances, dominating Mosqueruela and gaining 62 square miles of territory since May 15. Heavy rain brought the offensive to a standstill today. The Republicans claim that they have recaptured Corbalan. The Barcelona correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that the insurgents blame the weather for the slowing up of the advance on Castellon, but the delays arg believed to be caused by difficulty in replacing the casualties. It is admitted that many hundreds of Italians have been killed, and as the average dead to wounded is one to five the Italian losses must have hampered General Franco.