VISIT TO ROME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1938, Page 7

VISIT TO ROME

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED TO MR CHAMBERLAIN BOMBING OF BRITISH SHIPS.. INFORMATION REFUSED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, November 30. Asked in the House of Commons about his forthcoming visit to Rome, the Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, said he had gladly accepted an opportunity of following up and maintaining the personal contact which he recently made with Signor Mussolini at Munich. Replying to supplementary questions he said the date for his visit had not yet been fixed and added that he thought it might have very general effects. Answering a question whether he would raise the matter of the bombing of British ships in Spain, Mr Chamberlain said: “I stated before we went to Paris that I was not prepared to say before hand what subjects were going to be discussed. I am in the same position today.” ABSOLUTE EQUALITY. CIANO ON THE AGREEMENT WITH BRITAIN. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) ROME, November 30. Count Ciano told the Chamber of Deputies that Italy had mobilised 300,000 additional troops, to fight on the side of Germany if war had broken out in September. 'He added that the Anglo-Italian agreement was an effective contribution to the consolidation of peace, as it took new account of the new realities of the European, Mediterranean and African situation, settling on a basis of most absolute British and Italian Moral, Political and military equality. DELIBERATE ATTACKS , REPORT BY COMMISSION. LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIVES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 29. In its report on the bombings of Barcelona, the Commission for Investigation into Air Bombardments in Spain expresses the opinion that there will be loss of live and property whenever an attack on a port area is made from a high altitude at an angle to the coast. The report concludes: “In view of this fact, if such,attacks on a port area are continued, they must be regarded as tantamount to deliberate attacks on the civilian population as well.” SEIZURE OF GRAIN SHIPS. FURTHER BRITISH DEMAND. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, November 30. Because no response has been received to the British note, demanding release of Greek grain ships, Britain has despatched a further note to- Burgos, demanding an immediate and satisfactory answer. MISTAKE ADMITTED. CRITICISM OF DELAY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, November 30. In the House of Commons, the answer to a private notice question on the wheat ships seized by General Franco gave rise to a demand for a discussion on the adjournment of the House, but the motion was ruled out of order by the Speaker. Asked what reply had been received by the British Consul at Palma and the British Agent at Burgos to the request for the release of the ships, Mr Chamberlain said Lord Halifax hoped shortly to receive reports. Mr Chamberlain denied that there had been any delay in demanding the release of the ships and mentioned that certain other foreign ships with British cargoes had been held by the Span-’ ish nationalists, and that representations had been made.

In a discussion on the Speaxer’s ruling against the adjournment motion, the leader of the Opposition (Mr C. R. Attlee) complained of Government dilatoriness in conducting matters of this nature, and asked for some assurance that more was going to be done on this occasion.

Mr Chamberlain was able to intervene in the discussion to announce that a report had just been received from Palma that, though the ships had not yet been released, a mistake was admitted and acknowledged.