GROWING ANXIETY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 143, 17 May 1940, Page 6

GROWING ANXIETY.

MEDITERRANEAN UNREST. FEARS OF UPHEAVAL. LONDON, May 15. Observers to-night are anxiously examining various indications of the increasing delicacy of the Mediterranean situation, also incidents and other evidence pointing to the danger of Swiss involvement in the war. The Italian authorities plus pouring rain dampened demonstrations against tho Allies. Students gathered in the square under Signor Mussolini’s balcony, but the Duee did not appear and the police dispersed the demonstrators. A new anti-Allied poster appeared simultaneously with an article in the Popolo d’ltalia developing tho theme that if freedom and justice are to be assured it is against those who imposed the sanctions in the Abyssinian war. The Minister of Communications (Signor Venturi)'• disclosed that Italy had carried out a test mobilisation of her transport resources. Ho also returned to the subject of the deleterious effect of the Allied contraband control upon Italian commerce and declared 2449 ships had been held up or diverted from their courses and 759 passengers, 30,000 tons of merchandise. 631,000 cubic metres of timber and 20,000 miscellaneous packages had been taken off the ships, resulting in serious economic repercussions in Italy. Meanwhile tho Egyptians, for the first time, are feeling the danger of attack imminent. The Italian colony is nervous, although tho consultate is advising nationals to carry on. Istanbul dispatches say Italian residents are leaving Turkey. There are ominous signs in Switzerland. The American Consulates have advised Americans planning to return to the United States to concentrate on the Rordeaux region instead of Genoa.

French sources declare that railway passenger traffic between Berne and Germany lias been suspended. Many Basle and Zurich residents are evacuating to the mountain resorts. Further German movements on the Swiss frontier are reported.