NEWS OF OCCUPATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1939, Page 5

NEWS OF OCCUPATION

ITALIAN PUBLIC SURPRISED REASON FOR ACTION. REPORTED APPEAL BY CERTAIN ALBANIANS. By Telegraph—Press Associa*ion—Copyright. ROME, April 9. A communique issued on Saturday morning says that the news of the landing was the first Italy knew of a projected invasion, though it had been known for days that Italian residents in Albania had received orders from the Consuls to pack up and prepare to return to Italy. News of the occupation of Albania came like a bolt from the blue to the general public, among whom there was no excitement. Ah official communique explaining the action states:I—“ During 1 —“During the last few days, while conversations have been in progress between the Italian Government and King Zog for the conclusion of a new and closer accord, at Tirana and elsewhere threatening demonstrations occurred, headed by armed bands, seriously endangering the personal safety of Italians residing in Albania. “On the morning of April 6 our ships brought back to the Fatherland several hundreds of our fellow-citizens from Durazzo and Valona, including women and children.” Signor Gayda denounced foreign criticisms, specially French, as being cynical and melodramatic and designed to produce alarm and confusion. He states that the Balkans welcome Italy’s action. A communique announces that M Sereggi, Albanian Minister to Italy, had resigned on the ground that it was impossible to continue to serve a regime openly violating the Italo-Alban-ian pact and failing to serve the interests of the people. Another communique states that a group of prominent Albanians recently appealed to Italy to save the country from disorder, corruption and dissolution, and offered the crown to King Victor Emmanuel.