BRITISH GOVERNMENT TAKES PRECAUTIONS

Southland Times, Issue 24115, 2 May 1940, Page 7

BRITISH GOVERNMENT TAKES PRECAUTIONS

ATTENTION GIVEN TO ITALIAN STATEMENTS (United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Received May 1, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 30. The Government, as a precautionary measure, is diverting British shipping from the Mediterranean. The Associated Press of Great Britain learns on the most reliable authority that the precautions have been taken because of the character of pronouncements by responsible Italians, and also the attitude of the Italian Press. Britain does not intend to continue the precautions longer than necessary. It would be unwise to attribute to the British precautions a significance greater than the nature of the measures and the explanation which has been given would warrant. It has been made clear that pronouncements by Italians in responsible positions and the attitude of the Italian Press has been recently of such a character* as to make precautions inevitable, but they will not be continued any longer than necessary. The recent manifestations had obviously left the British authorities with little choice but to adopt safeguards dictated by normal prudence, but the decision equally obviously reflects no change in the attitude of London either to Italy or to those many questions regarding which the common interests of Italy and Britain have shown so often to be capable of harmonious regulation while goodwill obtains on both sides. Nor is there any recent development of the international situation which, so far as can be discerned from here, should affect the Italian attitude or alter those fundamental considerations arising from Italy’s natural and national interests which would seem to guide Signor policy of non-belligerency. There exists, therefore, a very lively hope among observers in London that the circumstances which necessitated the present precautions will prove of quite a temporary character. The precautions now in operation will allow more free and unhampered action in other activities should the necessity unfortunately arise. The precautions mean that British merchantmen must use the Cape route. The announcement is regarded as a striking reply to Italy’s anti-British propaganda.