ITALIAN BOMBAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1940, Page 5

ITALIAN BOMBAST

TERRITORIAL AND OTHER DEMANDS ADVANCED AT MEETING OF WORKMEN. CALM COMMENT IN FRANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, June 3. It is announced from Rome that a resolution reported to be supported by 70,000 workmen in Trieste demands Corsica, Nice and Malta for Italy, and also “liberation of the Mediterranean from the piracy of the owners of Gibraltar, Suez and Jibouti.”

The resolution adds: “We are ready for a war of liberation at the Duce’s orders, with the certainty of victory and glory.” A coloured map with Corsica labelled Italian is being displayed in the streets. The semi-official Paris newspaper, “Le Temps,” expresses surprise-at suggestions that Italy must inevitably intervene on the side of Germany. It says all such views are merely suppositions but admits that Germany is probably exerting heavy pressure on Italy. It adds that nobody knows how Italy will react to this. Differences of internal political systems did not constitute an obstacle to good French-Italian and Italian-British relations. It was difficult to believe that Signor Mussolini and his compatriots would fail to weigh their responsibilities in this most tragic crisis for civilisation.

The “Daily Telegraph” quotes a Rome report that all Italian airline services between Rhodes and Basra have been suspended.

ROME AN OPEN CITY

IN EVENT OF WAR. SIGNOR MUSSOLINI'S PLAN. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, June 3. The British United Press Rome correspondent says the evacuation of barracks and other military centres in Rome has begun in accordance with Signor Mussolini’s plan to declare the capital an open city in the event of war. Various departments and some Government Ministries are evacuating.

POSTPONED

THE 1942 EXHIBITION, (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) ROME, June 3. The Government has announced the indefinite postponement of the 1942 exhibition, because “several nations have requested an extension of time in which to prepare exhibits.