ITALY & FRANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1938, Page 7

ITALY & FRANCE

CHAMBERLAIN’S STATEMENT APPROVED IN ROME

SOME FAR-REACHING ASSUMPTIONS.

REGARDING CONFLICTS BEYOND EUROPE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, December 12.

The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says Mr Chamberlain's statement that Britain has entered into no treaty or pact which would require her to render military aid to France in the event of Italy embarking on warlike operations against France ci her possessions has given the greatest satisfaction in Italy as it agrees with her calculations that, whereas France and Britain are closely allied in defence of the European frontiers, each would stand alone in the event of conflicts outside the Continent.-

Italian newspapers claim that British public opinion supports Italy’s claims to Tunisia.

Meanwhile, tne diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Mr Chamberlain, in a speech to be delivered tomorrow at a foreign Press dinner, will indicate the lines along which he will seek to develop British foreign policy during the coming months. The speech will be broadcast throughout the world. The correspondent adds that an indication of what is in Mr Chamberlain’s mind can be obtained from Mr Pirow’s statement about the European situation on December 8, made after a long conversation with Mr Chamberlain, in which he stressed the need for a contribution from the other signatories to the Munich agreement.

The Press Chief of the German Foreign Office, Herr Gottfried Aschmann, is coming to London to attend the dinner, allegedly in order to report to HenHitler on Mr Chamberlain’s speech. TROOPS IN LIBYA. SUPPOSED REDUCTION IN STRENGTH. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 12. The Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr*R. A. Butler, stated in the House of Commons today that the Italian forces in Libya consisted in March, and still consist, of two army corps, each of two divisions, and of the i equivalent of a division of native troops. There was good reason to believe, however, that following the signature of the Anglo-Italian agreement on April 16, there had been a marked reduction in the number of effectives. GERMAN SUPPORT. LOCAL DISPUTE OR GENERAL CONFLAGRATION. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, December 13. The “Daily Mail’s” Rome correspondent learns from a most reliable source that Germany is officially supporting the Italian territorial claims, by a neutral attitude, providing the dispute is strictly local, but will give more concrete assistance, in the event of a general conflagration. A"--MUSSOLINI TO SPEAK EXPECTED TO OUTLINE CLAIMS. BRITISH STATEMENT REGRETTED IN FRANCE. LONDON, December 13 The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Signor Mussolini is expected to make an important speech on the international situation when he visits the island of Sardinia on December 18 to inaugurate the mining township of Carbonia which has been built around the newly-or-ganised lignite mines. Some quarters believe that he will outline Italy’s claims against France.

The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that political quarters there regret the form chosen by Mr Chamberlain of his declaration iff the House of Commons that Britain was not pledged to assist France if attacked by Italy. It is recognised that Britain is not formally committed, but it is felt that the declaration is bound to help Italy’s anti-French campaign.