Orders for Withdrawal Issued By Signor Mussolini

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 13

Orders for Withdrawal Issued By Signor Mussolini

REPORTED RESULT o| ; FRANCO'S NEUTRALITY DECLJ|ATION Newspapers Continue Support of German Policy (Received September 29, 11.10 p. m .) LONDON, September 29. The British United Press correspondent at Rome says that it is reliably stated that Signor Mussolini ordered the immediate withdrawal of all Italian volunteers from Spain.-

The Foreign Minister (Count Ciano) is believed to have informed the British Ambassador (Lord Perth) o£ the decision, intimating that the last obstacle to the application of the British-Italian Pact was thereby removed.

It is stated that Signor Mussolini decided on the withdrawal after General Franco's announcement that hj» would remain neutral in any European war, and also in view of the decision of the Spanish Premier (Senor Negrin) to evacuate foreigners serving with the Loyalists.

It is understood in Rome that the evacuation of the Italians has already begun. It is reported from St. Jean de Luz that 500 Italian airmen were withdrawn abruptly from the Spanish war. Most of them were stationed at Majorca and Saragossa.

Though the Italian preparations for an emergency have so far been restricted to the calling up of several categories of reservists and specialists, a warning has been issued in Rome to transport employees to hold themselves in readiness for mobilisation.

The newspapers continue to support Germany.