AID FOR HITLER

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1938, Page 7

AID FOR HITLER

By Telegraph—Press Association.

ITALY'S INTENTIONS

300,000 EXTRA TROOPS MUSSOLINI'S ADVICE PHONE CALL TO BERLIN

Rec. 11.10 p.m. Rome, Nov. 31. Count Ciano, Foreign Secretary, told the Chamber of Deputies that Italy had mobilised 300,000 additional troops to fight on the side of Germany if war had broken out in September. He revealed for the first time that during the Czech crisis Signor Mussolini informed Herr Hitler that in the event of general war Italy would aid Germany, as she would feel herself menaced. Referring to Mr. Neville Chamberlain's appeal to Mussolini to intervene in the Czech crisis, Count Ciano said the Duce immediately telephoned the Italian Ambassador at Berlin, instructing

him to tell Herr Hitler that Mussolini advised him to delay for 2A hours. "That telephone message saved humanity from a tragic trial," said the Count. He added that the Anglo-ltalian agreement was an effective contribution to the consolidation of peace. It took new account of the new realities of the European, Mediterranean and African situation, settling on a basis of the most absolute British and Italian moral, political and military equality.