ITALY’S INTENTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 156, 1 June 1940, Page 7

ITALY’S INTENTION

POSITION STILL OBSCURE. PRETEXT FOR ENTRY. NONE DISCERNED YET. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received June I. 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, May 31. From time to. time tlie probability of Italy’s entry into the war comes under review in diplomatic circles in London. The nature of the pressure exercised on Italian opinion by the officially-controlled Italian Press and wireless is obvious, but British Government circles deny that any intimation has been received of the intentions of Signor Mussolini. Nor is there any knoivledge here of the exchanges reported in tne news to have taken place between President Roosevelt and tlie head of the Italian Government. Shou.d Signor Mussolini bring Ins, country sooner or later into the Avar against the Allies it is clear that hie action will be dictated by considerations other than those arising from existing relations. The Allies, from the beginning of the war, have done their utmost in the exercise of the contraband control to meet the difficulties of neutral States, and in the ease of Italy have shoAvn a ready disposition to discuss the details Avith the Italian authorities. The Master of the Rolls only recently returned from the negotiations in Rome in Avhich, it Avas understood on the Britisli side, an agreement in principle had been reached for new agreements in respect of the contraband control. Yet three days ago the Italian Government let it he khoavii that these negotiations Avere broken off.