Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1939. ITALY’S FRIENDSHIP.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1939. ITALY’S FRIENDSHIP.

JTALY’S one-time love for France and her recent dispute with that country draws attention to the astonishing fact that in the course of the last five years Italy has had a greater range of estrangements and reconciliations than any other nation or group of nations, in the world. . During that period those nations against which Italy has launched criticism in bitter words include Germany, Great Britain, France, Yugoslavia, Czecho-Slovakia, Japan, Ethiopia, Republican Spain, Soviet Russia and the United States of America. Some of these were old friends of Italy; others one-time arch enemies who won Fascist favours after enduring a period of vituperation. Two of the targets—Ethiopia and Spain—became also the targets of Fascist bombs. Threats of war were frequent against several, and others escaped with a verbal barrage.

One of the original flies in tile Fascist ointment was Jugoslavia. Frontier controversies and Italian discontent over the rise of a powerful Slavic neighbour made trans-Adriatic recriminations ominous for years. .Later, partly in order to counter German economic competition, Italy took Belgrade to her bosom. It is scarcely five years ago since the Italian Press denounced Hitler’s Nationalist Socialists as accomplices in the murder of Chancellor Dollfus, of Austria, Signor Mussolini’s great friend, and Mussolini staged a. convincing armed demonstration on. the Austrian border, which blocked Germany’s absorption of Austria for four years. Today, the Rome-Berlin axis has become a definite factor on the Continent.

In 1935 the Fascist Press of Italy printed columns of abuse of Japan because in the Japanese Diet allusion was made by a Minister to Japan’s interests in Ethiopia; today the same newspapers almost daily give expression to tokens of affectionate admiration for Japan’s work of civilisation in China and her chivalrous campaign against the “Bolshevist peril.’’

During the period of sanctions Britain was lashed by the newspapers of Italy for her condemnation of Italy’s campaign of robbery and murder in Ethiopia, war between the two countries being threatened for several weeks. These rancours eventually evaporated in the glow of Munich, and since then. Signor Mussolini has expressed the opinion that he could look upon the British Prime Minister as a friend. Even Soviet Russia, whose denunciation by the Fascist Press was almost of daily occurrence, is referred to in much more friendly terms now, Italy having recognised Russia ahead of any other European nation and negotiated with that country one of its first trade treaties as well as a non-aggression pact..

Until a few years ago, Italy had particularly friendly feelings towards U.S.A. Today the Mussolini press carries on a running criticism of America because of its armament, its “imperialism” in Latin America and the “decadence of American political and social institutions.” Italy’s friendships will thus be found to shift according to her interests. She is a. country on whom, actually, no other nation can rely for support in time of trouble, being prepared to go which ever way the eat jumps.

BUSINESS IN MASTERTON.

'J'IIERE is unquestionably a duty on residents of Masterton to support local industry to the utmost of their power. Loyalty Io the town and all it stands for is required of every citizen in order that progress in keeping with its importance may be brought about. The business'people of Masterton are alive to the necessity of playing their part in the advancement of the town and district, and of recent months have demonstrated this in no uncertain manner. There is no need for residents to trade in any other centre, because in the shops of Mastertoil can be found the highest, grade goods at prices which compare more than favourably with bigger centres in the North Island. The local business houses take a pride in their operations and service, quality and cheapness is always their aim. Trading in Masterton has much to recommend itself to the citizens of Masterton. In the first place, the greater the business done in Masterton, the greater will be the demand for labour, thus largely solving the problem of finding employment for boys and girls when they leave school. If we buy goods in shops in other towns we are building up those towns and finding employment’for their residents'at the expense of our own trading houses and our own youth. It is very satisfactory to realise” that the retailers of Masterton are alive to the advantages of keeping themselves thoroughly up-to-date in their trading operations and of placing before the public the best service methods known to business. The “Ideal Homes” season, which is under way at the moment, is evidence of the keenness of the retailers’ of Masterton to serve the people and Io demonstrate that they are well abreast of the times. A town which goes along in a humdrum fashion, continuing methods which were in operation half a century, ago and ignoring modern conditions, will never make progress. Masterton has lon°' discarded that policy and. today we can proudly say that v/e possess a bushes service to none in the Dominion.