BRITISH MEASURES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 131, 3 May 1940, Page 7

BRITISH MEASURES.

AMPLE JUSTIFICATION.

LONDON, May 2. Official circles in London, .referring to the British measures in the Mediterranean involving merchant shipping, emphasise that the British Government must proviclp against every situation, however rem ete it may bo. Last August the Admiralty closed the Mediterranean to British merchant shipping just before war broke out. The Italian attitude then appeared to be doubtful, but the order was withdrawn soon afterward. It is thought significant that the liner Rex sailed from Naples to-day for New York according to schedule. It is argued that if Italy intended to drop non-belligerency in a few days the Rex would have been kept at home. Several British newspapers discuss the Italian situation to-day, and two of them, the Manchester Guardian and the Glasgow Herald, have the same heading on their leading articles, namely, “Italv on the Brink.” The newspapers agree that the remarkable language used recently, both by the Italian Press and Italian politicians, cannot be regarded as anything but threatening, but they, are loath to believe that Signor Mussolini can take the final plunge into war. The Manchester Guardian asks: “What ivill Signor Mussolini gain for Italy by the acceptance of the Nazi principle of violence P What will her pride and independence be worth?” The News-Chronicle makes the same point. If Hitler won .the war, it says, Italy would be completely at the mercy of the Nazis. If Signor Mussolini led Italy /into war with Britain and France it would be the worst day for Italy.- the paper adds. A blackout lias been ordered at Malta , and will begin to-night.