ATTITUDE OF ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1940, Page 6

ATTITUDE OF ITALY

SITUATION DELICATE

TRADE INJURY ALLEGED. THREAT TO SWITZERLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day. 12.50 p.m.) LONDON. May 15. Observers tonight are anxiously examining various indications of the increasing delicacy of the Mediterranean situation and also incidents and other evidence pointing to the danger of Swiss involvement in the war. The Italian authorities, plus pouring rain, have dampened demonstrations against the Allies. Students gathered in the square under Mussolini’s balcony, but the Duce did not appear. The police dispersed demonstrators. A new antiAllied poster appeared simultaneously with an article-in the “Popolo D'ltalia” developing the theme that if freedom and justice must be assured, it is against those who imposed sanctions.

The Minister of Communications,Signor Venturi, disclosed that Italy had carried out a test mobilisation of transport resources. Signor Venturi also returned to the subject of the deleterious effect of Allied contraband control upon Italian commerce. He declared that 2,449 ships had been held up or diverted from their courses, and that 759 passengers. 30.000 tons of merchandise, 631.000 cubic metres of timber and 20,000 miscellaneous packages had been taken off ships, resulting in serious economic repercussions in Italy. Meanwhile, Egyptians for the first time have been feeling that the danger of an attack is imminent and the Italian colony is nervous, although the Consulate is advising its nationals to carry on. Istanbul. dispatches say that Italian residents are leaving Turkey. There are ominous signs in Switzerland. The American Consulates have advised Americans planning to return to the United States to concentrate on the Bordeaux region instead of Genoa. French sources declare that railway passenger traffic between Berne and Germany has been suspended. Many Basle and Zurich residents are going to mountain resorts. Further German movements on the Swiss frontier arc reported.