ATTACK ON BRITAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20326, 27 January 1936, Page 11

ATTACK ON BRITAIN

ITALIAN OUTBURSTS RENEWED OFFICIAL REPLY TO BE ISSUED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 25, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, January 24 Italian criticism of Britain and Mr Eden (British Foreign Minister) broke out again in virulent form to-day. “11 Popolo d’ltalia” publishes a long indictment of the League policy and refers to "iniquitous” sanctions. Thus the relative truce apparent since the death of King George has been abandoned. EXTENSION OF COUNTER SANCTIONS ITALIAN RACING INVOLVED ' j j United Press Association— By Electric < . Telegraph—Copyright ROME, January 25 The Italian Turf Club is counter sanctions to horse racing n anU has ordered the names of the Saint Leger and Oaks to be changed to Premio-del-Fascio and Premio-Diana respectively, and the cancellation of the names of racehorses in the language of sanctionist countries. ITALY’S OFFICIAL PROTEST BREACH OF SPIRIT OF GENEVA ALLEGED United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 26, 6.30 p.m.) ROME, January 24 The Italian Government has addressed a Note to Britain and other sanctionist members of the League protesting against the Anglo-French mutual assistance agreement, stating that such Initiative and understanding do not conform with the spirit of the League of Nations and has produced an atmosphere of profound disquiet, thus endangering European peace. The Italian reply' asserts that such precautions are not called for, especially in the light of Signor Mussolini's repeated assurances that Italy has no intention of attacking Britain. Italy, it is declared, does not want to make the war between Italy and Abyssinia more than a colonial one; accordingly the possibility on an attack on the British fleet is said to be ridiculously out of the question. BRITAIN’S PLANS EXPLAINED OFFICIAL REPLY TO ITALY British Official Wireless (Received January 26, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 24 It is hoped in London that current rumours and misinterpretations of Britain’s policy will be finally disposed of by publication at Geneva of Mr R. A. Eden's memorandum on the assurances of mutual assistance exchanged between Britain and several Mediterranean Powers, and by the issue of confirmatory letters by the French, Jugo-Slavlan, Czecho-Slovakian, Greek and Turkish delegations. The assurances of support, with which the Rumanian Government has also associated itself, arise from and do not go beyond the obligations imposed by Paragraph 111 of Article 16 of the League Covenant. As the French note says: “They cannot therefore give rise to any surprise or misunderstanding on the part of international opinion.” In both the British memorandum and the French note, it is made clear that the technical conversations, in which military, naval and air experts have taken part, since the reaffirmation of political accord in the interpretation of the Covenant, have been confined entirely to the possibility of an Italian attack on a Power applying sanctions according to the League’s decision. The effect of the mutual assurances which have now been made public at Geneva is to place beyond doubt that in the event of such an attack by Itaiy’ on any one of the seven League Staffs, the others would come to its assistance,, The impression in well-informed quarters is that the certain knowledge’ that in present circumstances the obligations for mutual assistance under the Covenant will be fully honoured can only be good, relieving tension and increasing confidence.