ANTI-ITALIAN FEELING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1940, Page 5

ANTI-ITALIAN FEELING

VIOLENT RIOTS BREAK OUT IN BRITAIN PITCHED BATTLE IN SOHO. DANGEROUS SUSPECTS ARRESTED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, June 11. Violent anti-Italian riots broke out throughout the country late last night. Huge crowds in Soho waited tensely all the evening and then hostility broke out. Firearms are believed to have been used in a pitched battle between Italians and Greeks. Bottles flew, crashing into Italian cafes and shop windows. Scores of police rushed to Soho. One, injured in the head, was admitted to hospital. No arrests were made, except of Italians. A French cafe owner suffered from mistaken identity, a woman smashing his window with a syphon. Windows were also broken in Italian premises in Poplar - and other London districts. The police at midnight still guarded the Italian Club, while others searched the premises.

Hissing mobs swarmed through Liverpool’s Italian district, blocking the traffic and stoning premises, from which the police rescued the owners. Glasgow students demonstrated at the Italian Consulate as a workman removed the Consular plaque. Belfast crowds gathered outside icecream saloons and cafes and demanded that the patrons leave. Two soldiers Remained at one cafe after the civilians left. The police escorted them from the premises, the crowds shouting, “Shame! Are you Quislings or Leopolds?”

The police made baton charges on infuriated crowds in Leith Street, Edinburgh, in an endeavour to check serious riots. They made numerous arrests and several persons were injured. Britain’s Italian-born citizens total 25,000, of whom 19,000 are registered. The others are naturalised or under 16 years of age. London has 9366. Internment will not be automatic, but on classification. A majority of the dangerous suspects were arrested last night. ACTION IN QUEENSLAND TWO HUNDRED ITALIANS INTERNED. EVERY PRECAUTION TO PRESERVE ORDER. BRISBANE, June 11. Italy's declaration quickly brought the police and military machinery into operation in the Queensland sugar districts, in which many Italians are engaged. It is believed that about 200 were interned and others are being kept under the strictest observation. The public has been warned against taking the law into its own hands and assured that every precaution has been taken to preserve order and prevent subversive action. The authorities do not. anticipate serious disturbances. ITALIANS IN AFRICA FRENCH ARMY COMMANDER’S APPEAL. TO ACCEPT SITUATION CALMLY. ALGIERS, June 11. The Commander-in-Chief of the French forces in North Africa, appeals to the Italian population to accept the situation calmly. “I am aware that a large part of the Italians in Tunis, Algeria, and Morocco are working people who only ask to enjoy in peace . the hospitality that France has always afforded them,” he said. “The Italians in these countries know that France has always treated them as a free people. “France took up arms only to defend the liberty of peoples and will fight till victory is won. Honest Italians have nothing to fear. Others who try to impede the national defence will be punished without mercy.” OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) PRETORIA, June 11. It is officially announced that the Union of South Africa is severing relations with Italy. , IN BOMBAY SEVENTY ALIENS ARRESTED. BOMBAY, June 11. The police have arrested 70 Italians. APPEAL BY M. REYNAUD ATTITUDE TOWARDS ITALIANS IN FRANCE. PARIS, June 11. M. Reynaud appealed to the French to behave calmly toward the Italians living in France. “There are Italians here who are obviously pro-French, he said. "Many Italians were compelled to leave Italy and sought refuge in France.” ROUND=UP IN BRITAIN DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE AT MANY PLACES. POLICE CLEAR STREETS WITH BATON CHARGES. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 11. The police round-up of Italians throughout the country continues. Simultaneously anti-Italian demonstrations are occurring, notably in West Scotland. whore about sixty demonstrators were arrested. At Greenock the police cleared the streets with a baton charge. Windows of Italian cafes in Cardiff, Newport and Exeter were smashed. NINE HUNDRED ARRESTS REPORTED IN MARSEILLES. (Received This Day. 10.30 a.m.) MARSEILLES, June 11. Nine hundred Italians have been arrested. All others must report to the police. MOSCOW SILENT NO OFFICIAL COMMENT. MUSSOLINI’S SPEECH PUBLISHED IN FULL. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) MOSCOW, June 11. No official comment is made on Italy’s entry-into the war. The news- ' papers publish Mussolini’s speech fully.