BRITAIN & ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1938, Page 5

BRITAIN & ITALY

PREPARATIONS TO IMPLEMENT TREATY ANTICIPATION OF EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT THE BOMBING OF BRITISH SHIPS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, October 20. The Associated Press Understands that the way has been cleared for implementing the Anglo-Italian Treaty. Both Governments are taking measures to create a favourable atmosphere. The announcement will be made by Mr Neville Chamberlain immediately Parliament reassembles. Mr R. A. Butler, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, summoned a meeting of all British shipowners engaged in trade with Spain, and it is understood, appealed for assistance in avoiding untoward incidents. He informed that that an official inquiry revealed that all bombings of British ships since the Munich conference were not deliberate. In each case the ships attacked were within areas proclaimed as military zones by the Republicans, also the bombs were dropped from planes flying very high, making it impossible to distinguish targets. The only case in recent months months of deliberate piracy on the high seas was the attack on the freighter Stancroft on August 19.