REACTION IN ROME

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 4, 6 January 1936, Page 7

REACTION IN ROME

A COLD RECEPTION

ITALY'S CASE NOT KNOWN

HOME, January 4,

President Roosevelt's allusion to the exhortation to Italy that she should patiently seek an outlet for an evergrowing population by peaceful negotiation was coldly received in Italian official circles, where it is stressed that the President's message shows an insufficient knowledge of Italy's case and of the real situation.

Italy, it is asserted, has been showing patience with Abyssinia for 40 years, notwithstanding the provocations of systematic breaches of agreements. Peaceful negotiations also have been carried out for many years, but these negotiations have resulted in no reward for Italy's legitimate needs and aspirations.

Italy, therefore, it is declared, had no alternative but to help herself with her own hands.

Signor Mussolini, Signor Suvich, and Baron Aloisi are studying the speech. Their comment is not forthcoming.

A Foreign Office spokesman says President Eoosevelt's speech is not understood as forecasting a general embargo on the export of war materials, especially oil, to Italy. Moreover, his reference to countries where the people do not follow the Government does not apply to Italy. Other commentators point out that since September Italy has imported oil in enormous quantities from America and was largely relying on it to carry on the war. Accordingly a reduction would be embarrassing.