AN ULTIMATUM?

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21167, 17 July 1940, Page 7

AN ULTIMATUM?

BRITAIN AND DICTATORS TENSENESS IN ROME COUNT CIANO FOR BERLIN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, July 16 It is reported from Zurich that the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, is en route to Berlin, to be present at a meeting of the Reichstag, at which Hitler will announce an ultimatum against Britain. The Times says private telephone calls from Italy to foreign countries are reported to have been suspended since Saturday, and press calls are subjected to long delays. The political atmosphere in Rome is intensely expectant, such as usually precedes momentous events. Similar delays have affected communications from Berlin. Italy’s Dilemma The London Daily Mail says that Signor Gayda has revealed that Italy’s purpose is to keep powerful British naval units in the Mediterranean so that Germany can carry out the proposed invasion of Britain with less risk. In the meantime the Italians face a dilemma as the result of the new Admiralty announcement regarding risks off the Italian coast. The Italian fleet must come out and attempt to destroy the blockaders, or the greater part of the Italian trade with the outside world must be cut off.