REPLY TO ITALIAN ANTIBRITISH ATTITUDE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 10

REPLY TO ITALIAN ANTIBRITISH ATTITUDE

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.)

LONDON, April 30. As a precautionary measure, the Government is diverting British shipping from the Mediterranean. .• uu. The Australian Associated ■ Press learns on wy leltablc authority that this precaution has been taken, because of the character of pronouncements by responsible I talians and also “flio JiWcte of the Italian Press. _ Bn tain does not intend to continue the precaution longer than is neccssaiy. 'fhe precautionary measure means that British mcrchantjiien will use the Cape route. i. The announcement is regarded as a striking icply to Itay-auti-British propaganda. A British Official Wireless message says it would be urn ise to attribute to the British precautions a significance greater han the nature of the measures and the authoritative explanation which has been given would warrant. . . . . • Recent manifestations had obviously left the British autho' ties with little choice but to adopt safeguards dictated by no.mal prudence, but the decision, equally obviously, reflects no chang in the attitude of London either to Italy or to those manyucstions regarding which the common interests of Italy and Liita have been shown so often to be capable of harmonious while "oodwill obtains on both sides. . , . , Nor is there any recent development in the interna lona situation which, so far as can be discerned from here should affect the Italian attitude or alter those fundamental considerations arising from Italy’s natural and secular national interest which would seem to guide Signor Mussolini s policy of no - bC!i 'There\xists, therefore, a very lively hope .among observers in I ondon that the circumstances which necessitated the present precautions will prove of quite a temporary character.