FRIENDLY APPROACH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 160, 6 June 1940, Page 7

FRIENDLY APPROACH.

REJECTED BY ITALIANS. LONDON. June 4.

Tn h's speech regarding Italy's attitude towards the war the French Premier (M. Reynaud) recalled that l>otli before and since last September the French Government had made known to the Italian Government its ■willingness to open discussions aimed at finding a friendly basis for the settlement of all outstanding questions. These overtures, he added, remained without response, but the attitude ■ which the Italian (Government felt called upon to adopt made no difference to the feelings of the French Government. During- the last few days the French Government, in full accord with the British Government, had renewed these demarches. The remarks of M. Reynaud remain without response from the Italian side, and to-day’s issue of the Popolo di Roma even takes the Allies to task for their friendly references to Italy. It says Paris and London ought, as a matter of decency, to refrain from recalling their . pretended friendship and generosity in other days. Fresh measures were taken to-dav against critics of the Government. A oarish priest was arrested for preaching a sermon described as “antinational,” and a Roman Catholic \veekly was suppressed for having published a. list of Italians who died fighting with the French army. ~ The Italian Press continues to preach daily the inevitability of war. One paper says that some people will hone for one two, or three months of waiting “We say.” it continues, “let the, devil take those people-” Other Italian newspapers are giving prominence to messages from organisations and private people: referring to “the / privilege of fighting for the countrv’s independence,” Reuter’s correspondent in Rome reports that these telegrams • are evidently intended to whip up enthusiasm among the Italian people.