ITALIAN HOSTILITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1940, Page 5

ITALIAN HOSTILITY

PLAIN SPEECH BY BRITISH MINISTER DISCLOSURE OF INTENTIONS INVITED. SATISFACTION EXPRESSED IN FRANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 18. Referring in a speech to the hostile attitude of the Italian Press, the Minister of Economic Warfare, Mr Cross, said: “If Italy wishes treatment as a neutral, she must behave as one. The Italian Press has recently adopted a tone toward Britain which could only be fairly described as hostile. "We have no quarrel with Italy. We wish to be friends, but we are plain-dealing, plain-speaking people and should like to know where we stand with Italy.” A Paris message states that the speech caused the greatest satisfaction in French official circles, where the opinion is expressed that it is time to find out what Italy wants and what she is going to do. ITALY AND SPAIN VERY CLOSE UNDERSTANDING INDICATED. NEW YORK. April 17. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent states that reports to official quarters in Washington indicate that Spain’s understanding with Italy is extremely close. “There are increasing indications.” he says, “that the Italian forces which are opposing entry into the war against the Allies will not prevail if Signor Mussolini is determined to act.” The State Department is conferring on the possibility of a rapid extension of the active war fronts. The "New York Times” Rome correspondent believes that the continued losses in Italian industrial stocks indicate impending trouble and suggests that this is either the result of accumulated war worries or because influential inside circles have knowledge denied to the public. QUELLING RUMOURS REGARDING ITALY’S INTENTIONS. STEPS TAKEN IN ROME. ■ (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) ROME, April 18. The Government has taken steps to quell rumours regarding Italy’s intentions. An official statement denies that Bari is a prohibited area and denies all suggestions of mobilisation. It says that the new men called up are only a few thousands previously exempt for medical reasons and now declared fit for service.