WAR UNLIKELY

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20691, 29 December 1938, Page 8

WAR UNLIKELY

FRANOE AND ITALY BRITISH OFFICIAL VIEW MUSSOLINI’S DESIRES (Unit"* Pr*** v«n.—Kl*C. T**!. ronvrlgtin (Received Dec. 29, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 28 The Daily Telegraph says it is stated in all quarters that th6re is not the slightest danger of the FrenchItalian dispute developing into war. It seems the general conviction in Government circles that Mussolini, with German support, will obtain some sort of satisfaction. The Rome representative of the British Press Association says that sources close to the French Embassy state that Signor Mussolini will seek Mr Chamberlain's good offices with France to secure—--1) A large measure of autonomy for Italians in Tunisia. (2) Permission for Italians to freely emigrate to Tunisia and buy land which is at present uncultivated. (3) The cession of the port of Djibouti and the sale of the railway to Italy. (4) Italian participation in the management of the Suez Canal. DESPATCH OF TROOPS MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPS v united Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) ‘ (Received Dec. 29, 3.15 p.m.) , LONDON, Dec. 28 The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the departures of the liners Sphinx for the Far East and the Chantilly for Madagascar were delayed in order to embark a battalion of 850 Sengalese Rifles for Djibouti. The destroyer Epervier, at present in the Eastern Mediterranean, has been ordered to Djibouti to join the Diberville, which is already en route from Beirut.

The Foreign Office announces that a topographical mission is being despatched to survey the ill-defined frontier between French Somaliland, adjoining Italian possessions.