ITALY ANGERED

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1933, Page 5

ITALY ANGERED

CURT ANGLO-FRENCH NOTE

ARMS FOR AUSTRIA ALLEGED

SHOCK FOR JUGO-SLAVIANS

‘UNMERCIFUL HUMILIATION’

SOME THINK IT ULTIMATUM

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 6.30 p.m. Paris, Feb. 18. Following the alleged smuggling of machine-guns and rifles from Italy during January contrary to the Versailles Treaty, France and Britain have sent a Note to Austria asking restitution of the arms to Italy or destruction within a fortnight. The Note in some quarters is described as an ultimatum but the French Foreign Office disclaims the term. Rome messages, however, show that Italy is angry at the despatch, considering it violent and unmerited humiliation of Austria. The effect of the Note has been to arouse further Italian anger against France and France’s ally, Jugo-Slavia. Budapest official circles are shocked at the peremptoriness of the FrancoBritish Hirtenberg Note, which is regarded as recalling pre-war methods and as disrespectful to Austria’s sovereignty. It was delivered a week ago and therefore leaves only a week for fulfilment. The Jugo-SJavian Foreign Office, though the Note specifies Hungary, considers the matter is not Hungary’s affair.