ANGLO-ITALIAN AGREEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 7

ANGLO-ITALIAN AGREEMENT

MR CHAMBERLAIN IS DISAPPOINTED DENUNCIATION OF PACT NOT DESIRED (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, April 13. After announcing the assurances given to Rumania and Greece in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister declared: "We are communicating this declaration to the Governments directly concerned and to those Powers—especially Turkey—whose close relationships with the Greek Government are known. I understand that France is making a similar declaration this afternoon.” The Prime Minister then discussed the future of the Anglo-Italian Agreement. He frankly confessed his deep disappointment at Italy’s action, which had cast a shadow over the genuineness of its intentions to carry out its undertakings, but he disagreed with the opinion, which, he suggested, some might hold that the agreement should cease. He believed, on the contrary, that there would be a widespread desire—all the greater for the uneasiness now prevailing—to see the fulfilment of the remaining provisions of the agreement. He added that, naturally, in view of recent events, it was to Italy that they looked for practical evidence that she shared that desire.

Mr Chamberlain mentioned an assurance from Signor Mussolini about the Italian troops in Spain given to Lord Halifax as Foreign Secretary by Signor Crolla, Italian Charge d’Affaires, in the course of the exchanges of the last six days. It was to the effect that Italy confirmed that all Italian volunteers would be withdrawn from Spain immediately after taking part in the victory parade in Madrid. Count Galeazzo Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, had informed the Earl of Perth, as British Ambassador, that Italian aeroplanes and pilots would leave also. The British Government, the Prime Minister declared, had taken due note of these fresh assurances and, as it had always regarded the evacuation of Italian troops from Spain as a vital element in the agreement, it looked forward to their early fulfilment. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Mr Chamberlain spoke of how intolerable was the state of international affairs which kept the whole world in a continually recurring series of alarms, blighted commerce and industry, depressed social conditions and poisoned every phase of human activity. The events of which Britain had had cause to complain in the past and which again it had to condemn today could not have failed to stir the minds and consciences of all people. He took hope from the fact that the patience Britain had exercised over a long period with many disappointments of its efforts to remove suspicion, promote goodwill and ensure peace would yet be rewarded. He assured the House that, without prejudice or preconceived ideological notions, Britain was endeavouring to the utmost of its ability successfully to marshal the forces still favouring peace and willing to resist aggresson. Mr Chamberlain recalled recent events and reminded members of what he had told the House of Commons on the eve of the adjournment for the Easter recess. He emphasized the difficulty which had been experienced in getting information from Albania and said that Lord Halifax was still awaiting communication from the British Minister at Durazzo (Sir Andrevz Ryan) which had been delayed. He proceeded to give the House accounts from both Albanian and Italian sources which conflicted in many particulars, both as to the course of events and the background against which they had occurred and suggested that it would in the meantime be wise to suspend judgment on the facts. But there was no doubt of the general effect produced by the Italian action, said Mr Chamberlain. Public opinion throughout the world has once again been profoundly shocked by this fresh exhibition of the-use of force. Before proceeding to his declaration about the assurances to Greece and Rumania, the Prime Minister reported to the House on the diplomatic exchanges of the Easter week-end. It was natural that Britain should view the Italian proceedings in Albania in relation to the Anglo-Italian Agreement in which the two Governments had disclaimed any desire to modify or to see modified the status quo in the Mediterranean. This was the basis, he made clear, on which the earliest British representations were made both to Count Galeazzo Ciano in Rome and to the Italian representatives in London.

On Good Friday Count Ciano had told the Earl of Perth, in reply to his representations, that Italy fully intended to respect the independence and integrity of Albania and the status quo in the Mediterranean. On Easter Sunday Lord Perth saw the Italian Foreign Secretary again and informed him that, although Britain had taken note of these assurances, it was nevertheless gravely concerned by the reports reaching it. Lord Perth added that Britain found it difficult to believe that if the situation between Italy and Albania was as had been described previously by Count Ciano, the differences between the two countries were incapable of solution by negotiation and that Britain found it equally difficult to understand or to reconcile the landing of the Italians on the Albanian coast with the integrity of Albania’s frontiers. FUTURE INTENTIONS Lord Perth had further informed Count Ciano that his Government felt it was entitled to the frankest and fullest explanation not only of the present developments, but also of the future intentions of Italy. He added that the explanation proffered to date had caused Britain profound misgivings and would not satisfy British public opinion. When pressed by the Earl of Perth as to what were the Italian intentions regarding the future, bearing in mind the definite pledges and assurances which the Italian Government had already given, Count Ciano said that this would depend on the wishes of the Albanians themselves. The Prime Minister also disclosed that when Lord Halifax saw Signor Crolla at a late hour on Easter Eve, Signor Crolla had communicated a message from Signor Mussolini which stated, among other things, that the neighbouring countries—Yugoslavia and Greece—were perfectly calm and that it was very clear that Italy was not going to cause trouble in neighbouring countries. A On Saturday Signor Crolla drew attention to the information in his possession that the English Sunday Press was likely to discuss the possible course of action by the British Government, including the occupation of Corfu. He | assured Lord Halifax that the Italians were not going to threaten Greek independence, but stated that any British occupation of Corfu would have a very dangerous reaction. Lord Halifax told him that he could dismiss from his mind the idea that the British Government had any intention of occupying Corfu, but Lord Halifax also made it clear that Britain would., take a very grave view if anybody else occupied it. The Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax), who made in the House of Lords a similar statement to that made by the Prime Minister, added: "The Government is fully aware of the gravity of the decisions recorded, but it has taken this course after full reflection and consideration in the belief that, as things stand today, a perfectly clear declaration of its attitude in certain events, from which in no case can Britain properly stand aside, would make those events less likely.”