BRITISH VISIT TO ROME

Southland Times, Issue 23682, 3 December 1938, Page 7

BRITISH VISIT TO ROME

France May Express Apprehension

RELATIONSHIP WITH ITALY

FEAR OF POSSIBILITY OF

DISSERVICE

(United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received December 2, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 2.

The Paris correspondent of The Daily Telegraph says that probably France will express to London apprehension that the visit to Rome of the Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) may prove a diservice to FrancoItalian relations and also cause a damaging interpretation of Franco-British Mediterranean solidarity. The correspondent adds that a stiffening of the French attitude towards Spanish affairs is expected.

During a speech by the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Galeazzo Ciano) in the Chamber of Deputies he declared the Government’s intention to safeguard the interests and aspirations of Italians. This brought anti-French demonstrations and cries of “Tunisia!” The demonstrations continued outside Parliament, the. crowd shouting “Il Duce! Tunis! Corsica!” The Paris correspondent of The Times points out that it was a demonstration of an altered opinion of France, not because the claims are taken seriously, although it is realized that the Italian grievances concerning Tunisia must be considered, but because of the conviction that Italy and Germany are engaged at present in a carefullyplanned attempt to weaken AngloFrench solidarity, evidence of which can be seen in further German attacks on Britain when the Nazi Foreign Minister (Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop) is preparing to go to France and in the new Italian outburst against Ffance when Mr Chamberlain is preparing to go to Rome. The newspaper Tribuna in Rome declares that the French occupation of Tunis in 1881 was a “grave insult, that would be remembered by Italians. The paper adds that, in order to be friends with Italy, it will be necessary to repair the insults.