CONTRABAND ARMS.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18875, 20 February 1933, Page 7

CONTRABAND ARMS.

SMUGGLED INTO AUSTRIA.

FRANCO-BRITISH NOTE SENT.

RETURN OF WEAPONS DEMANDED United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright PARIS, Feb. 18. Following upon tho alleged smuggling of machine-guns and rifles from Italy during January, contrary to the Treaty of Versailles, France and Britain have sent a Note to Austria asking for the return of the arms to Italy or their destruction within a fortnight. In some quarters the Note Is described as an ultimatum, but the French Foreign Office disclaims that term.

Messages from Rome, however,show that Italy Is angry about the despatch of the Note and considers It constitutes a violent and unmerited humiliation of Austria.

The effect of the Note has been to arouse further Italian anger against France and France's ally, Yugoslavia. It is reported from Budapest that offlolal circles in the Hungarian capital are shocked by the peremptoriness of the Franco-Britlsh Note, which s regarded as recalling pre-war methods and as disrespectful to Austria’s sovereignty. It Was delivered a week ago, therefore, only a week Is left for the fulfilment of the demand. Although the Note specifies Hungary, the Hungarian Foreign Office considers that the matter Is not Hungary’s affair.