HOLD ON TUNIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 December 1938, Page 5

HOLD ON TUNIS

PARIS NEWSPAPERS WARN ITALY FRANCE WOULD IMMEDIATELY FIGHT. M. DALADIER’S REPORTED INTIMATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. PARIS, December 12. The newspapers strongly warn Italy about the inviolability of Tunis and declare that France would immediately fight for it. Signor Mussolini, says the Press, is mistaken if he thinks he can repeat German methods in the Mediterranean. He should read the English newspapers for confirmation of this. There is reason for believing that M. Daladier, the Premier, with characteristic bluntness, informed Herr von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, that he could tell his Italian friends that France would fight without hesitation if an inch of her empire is threatened. BRITAIN’S POSITION NO FORMAL OBLIGATION TO 'ASSIST. IN EVENT OF ITALIAN ATTACK. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, December 12. Mr Chamberlain iwas asked in the House of Commons whether any pact, treaty or agreed undertaking existed which, in the event of Italy embarking on warlike operations against France or her possessions, would specifically require Britain to render military aid to France. He replied: “No such requirement exists in any treaty or pact with France.” POLICY OF SECRECY ITALIAN PUBLIC KEPT ( IN DARK. HOPES OF FOLLOWING NAZI EXAMPLE. LONDON, December 12. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says that the British Government’s view that the Italian claims to Tunis and Corsica are contrary to the Anglo-Italian agreement have not yet been made clear to the Italian public. Moreover. Mr Chamberlain’s disclosure in the House of Commons that Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, had disavowed responsibility for the anti-French demonstration in the Chamber of Deputies has not yet been published in the newspapers, resulting in the impression that the Italian Government is identified with the claims. Thus confident expectation has been created on false premises which will be difficult for Signor Mussolini to neglect without loss of prestige. The people feel that Germany on several occasions having got all she wanted without war, Italy ought to be able to use the same tactics effectively. The correspondent says that this constitutes a serious danger and emphasises that British feeling and intentions should be clarified to both the Italian Government and the people.