FOREIGN OFFICE SECURITY LEAK

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 November 1949, Page 5

FOREIGN OFFICE SECURITY LEAK

LONDON, Nov. 3.—A spanking article in the American magazine “Newsweek” entitled "A Spanking by Ernie,” has embarrassed the British Foreign Office, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent.

Quoting an outspoken memorandum by the Foreign Minister (Mr Ernest Bevin), criticising Italy for recent anti-British press campaigns, the article showed a leakage in Foreign. Office security. It is expected that British officials in Washington will investigate the leak from the security angle. According to “Newsweek,” Mr Bevin, writing with “typical bluntness,” prepared the memorandum for the private guidance of officials of the Foreign Office.

The magazine quoted Mr Bevin as saying in the memorandum: “I find it incredible thaL responsible Italian statesmen should throw bricks at us in this way. I do not see what they can expect to gain by screaming at us. It is regrettable tnat at a time when we are trying hard to resist, outside threats one member of the democratic world should launch a false and artificial campaign against another. I am constantly hearing about Italian grievances from third parties, but never from Count Sforza himself. I have had several free and frank talks with Count Sfoza recently and he certainly is not as provoked as the Italian Foreign Office wants us to believe.” Mr Bevin continued: “I will not have my policy changed by press campaigns and similar tactics. I wish the Italians would understand that as a Government we are not playing a double game, but are trying our best to be straightforward and honest with other Powers. I do not expect Italy’s attitude towards us to improve until the colonial question is out of the way, but I do expect Italian statesmen to keep out of the press campaigns.” A Foreign Office spokesman said today that the anti-British press campaign in Italy “has not affected, and will not affect, our policy of pursuing good relations witn Italy.” The publication or the “Newsweek” article brought commenls today from two major daily newspapers in Rome. The independent “Il Tempo,” in an editorial, said. “The British policies were often turned against us. It is a long and painful series of events covering the past four years.*’ The independent “Giornale d’ltalia” said: “Maybe Mr Bevin considers a proof of British friendship the intention to take over the Italian colonies which were conquered by the money and labour of Italian.' the discarding of Italy from the delicate network of Brussels, the attempt to prevent our entry into the Atlantic Pact, the deliberate exclusion of Italy's northern frontier from the western defensive line, and the ‘cheating’ of the pound sterling. Italy has tried to defend itself against this sort of friendship. For Ernie friendship is a synonym of slavery.”