ALLEGED “THREAT”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1939, Page 7

ALLEGED “THREAT”

FORMATION OF COMMON FRONT BY DEMOCRACIES ITALIAN VIEW OF CRISIS. MEETING OF FASCIST GRAND COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ROME, March 22. A communique issued here today after the meeting of the Fascist Grand Council states that the Council is faced by the threatened constitution of a united front of the democracies, associated with Bolshevism, against the totalitarian States—a united front bringing nc peace, but war. The communique declares that recent events in central Europe had their origin in the Treaty of Versailles and reaffirms Italy's full adhesion to the Rome-Berlin axis.” The. communique reveals that Signor Mussolini spoke at length on the international situation, including recent events, but does not reveal details of his speech.' The Council also reaffirmed the original Fascist'motto, “Believe, obey, fight.” , * More Italian army reservists anc specialists are reported to have been called uo during the past few days including the 1901, 1902, and 1903 classes, but it is authoritatively stated that this is merely part of the campaign tc keep Italy prepared for any emergency that may arise. MEN CALLED UP CLASSES HITHERTO EXEMPTED. THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN (Received This Day, 9.4 5a.m.) ROME, March 22. Three hundred thousand 1918 class recruits ana earlier classes hitherto exempted because of unfitness are being called up before the week-end. This is understood to be above the normal annual intake. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED GERMAN-ITALIAN AXIS SOLID DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY SENSE. (Received This Day 10.30 a.m.) - ROME, March 22. Signor Virgino Gayda says Italy accepts the democratic challenge to the German-Italian axis which is solid both in the diplomatic and military sense and is ready for every eventuality. ■ ' •

PACIFIC CONFERENCE BRITISH REPRESENTATIVES ANNOUNCED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 22. Sir Thomas Inskip has announced that Major-General P. J. Mackesy, Air Marshal Longmore and Vice-Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin will be the Pacific Conference representatives. STATUS OF AREA DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE WAR. PROTECTION OF CULTURAL RIGHTS. At the close of the Great War, the port of Memel and a small strip of territory taken from Germany was administered by the League of Nations. In 1923 the territory was seized by means of a Lithuanian coup-de-main, and the French garrison was removed. Ultimately the territory was transferred to the newly-established State of Lithuania, unjer the protection of a Statute specially drafted to protect the cultural rights of its German population.

The Memel Statute of 1924 provided for the administration of the Memel territory by a Directorate of Memellanders, under a Governor to be appointed by a Lithuanian Government. Rioting occurred in Memel on the night of June 28, 1938, when Nazis and Lithuanians fought in the streets with stones, sticks and other missiles. A 16-year-old German boy was killed and aoout 50 people were injured, some of them critically. The rioting began when about 7000 Germans assembled to greet the arrival in port of the German steamer Danzig. While they were singing Nazi songs and shouting 'Heil Hitler.” members of the crew of a Lithuanian steamer turned fire hoses on them.

German interests have been politically active in ventilating grievances and fomenting agitations against the Lithuanian Government. In the Memcl legislature they have steadily increased their repesentation till,, at fne elections in December last, they had captured 28 of the 29 seats. Herr Bertuliet, deputy-leader of the Memel Germans, was reported to have made the first formal demand for a return to the Reich during a speech on December 10. 1938. He declared that Memel was separated against its will and now desired reunion.