WAITING FOR MUSSOLINI

Southland Times, Issue 23735, 6 February 1939, Page 7

WAITING FOR MUSSOLINI

STAGE SET FOR NEXT CRISIS?

CLAIMS ON FRANCE EXPECTED FASCIST COUNCIL MEETS IN ROME (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 5, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, February 4. Official German circles expect that in his speech to the Fascist Grand Council today Signor Mussolini will state precisely what he wants from France, and the crisis will then have begun, although it may not be acute immediately, says the Berlin correspondent of The Times.

It is recalled that the Czech crisis lasted six months, but German official circles are at the moment a great deal more optimistic about a peaceful settlement of the 1939 Mediterranean dispute than they were about the 1938 Sudeten German quarrel. The Fascist Grand Council met at the Palazzo Chigi at 9 p.m. under the presidency of H Duce. Hundreds outside cheered the members as they arrived. Il Duce’s personal bodyguard occupied the entrances to the palace.

Well-informed circles do not expect a sensational speech, in view of the curb unofficially applied from Germany upon Signor Mussolini’s possible exuberance, which is probably increased by General Gambara’s claim that Italian troops were solely responsible for the capture of GeronaA brief official statement is expected at about 3 a.m. . The Supreme Defence Council will meet on Monday to examine the Spanish situation. It is probable that Signor Mussolini will reserve his principal utterance until after that

A later message states that the council continued after midnight

“DOWN WITH FRANCE” Shouting “Down with France!”, hundreds of students stormed a theatre in the middle of Rome, compelling the suspension of an American film, “The Woman I Love,” in which Paul Muni and Miriam Hopkins play the leading parts. The film exalts the bravery of French airmen. Afterwards it was officially announced that the film would be permanently banned' because of “its friendly atmosphere to France.” The London correspondents of Italian newspapers are giving a misleading picture of British opinion. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) is credited with fullest acceptance of the Italian and German viewpoint, and readers are led to conclude that there are only two brands of thought in Britain: the Prime Minister and his supporters standing for peace and friendship with Italy and disapproving , of French resistance to the Italian plaims, and the pro-Bolshevists and war-mongers who oppose them. Britain’s proclaimed solidarity with France is discreetly overlooked. The French Chamber of Deputies unanimously adopted the • resolution put forward by its Colonial Committee against the transfer of any. of France s territories or the delegation of her suzerainty over them.