ANGER IN ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 March 1940, Page 5

ANGER IN ITALY

OVER HOLD-UP OF GERMAN COAL LIVELY DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY. TALK OF BRITISH ARROGANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. ROME, March 4. The radio announced that lively diplomatic activity is proceeding with a view lo permitting 20 ships with German coal for Italy to sail for Italy without, hindrance from the British contraband control. Italy's protest against the British ban has been handed to the British Embassy. It is believed that the protest also covers the entire field of illeffects of the British and French control of all the Italian seaborne trade. Seizures of United States, copper and nickel, East Indies rubber, and South American cotton have irritated the Italians, and the belief is encouraged that Britain is trying to exploit trade matters for political, ends.

Signor Farina-Cinis, writing in the “Regime Fascista,” describes the coal embargo as “an act of arrogance and insolence. It is a reprisal for the Italian refusal to sell arms to England. The fight is waged against unarmed populations, not against armies. Any reaction is legitimate.” The Italians declare that 180,000 tons of German coal is awaiting shipment to Italy, and that it would have been shipped before the time limit established by the contraband control but for the freezing of the German canals.

The Italian protest complains that the British Government's economic warfare is against the letter and the spirit of international rules, and adds that there is little distinction between absolute and conditional contraband, a radio message states. It states that coal supplies are necessary to Italy, and that the British measure may seriously impair the relations established between the two countries in 1938.

In British circles it is stated that the measure is in no sense a reprisal, but that Britain could not allow Germany to go on exporting coal while alb her other exports were seized. It is also stressed that Italy received notice of the decision three months ago, and that Britain was prepared to negotiate. In these negotiations Italy offered to exchange fruit for British coal, but the British authorities wanted the products of her heavy industries as exchange and a deadlock resulted. The negotiations have not broken off. and it is expected that they will be resumed shortly. REPORT DENIED SHIPMENTS FROM ROTTERDAM. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON. March 4. An official of the Ministry ot Economic Warfare declares that the report from Rotterdam, that Britain will not seize coal shipments to Italy for two months, is untrue. A message from Rotterdam states that six coal-laden ships have sailed for Italy.