ALARM IN ROME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 December 1940, Page 5

ALARM IN ROME

OVER MR CHURCHILL’S BROADCAST UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT SUPPRESSION. . lame retort issued. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, December 23. The British Broadcasting Corporation took all steps to ensure that the Italian people received Mr Churchill’s speech by sending out at 7.30 p.m. before Mr Churchill spoke a translation of the speech on the usual wavelength. There are already indications that the people to whom it was addressed heard the speech and that this appears to have aroused alarm in Rome. The immediate issue today of a lame retort which in no way constitutes a reply to Mr Churchill’s vigorous and carefully-documented indictment of the Ducds policy that has involved the Italian people in such a grave crisis is significant. It testified that, despite the dire penalties which the totalitarian States imposes on listening to foreign broadcasts, Mr Churchills speech has in fact had a wide audience in Italy, and that the authorities are concerned at the disturbing effect it may have on a public from whom a statement on the real condition of affairs in which Italy finds herself has been withheld. A Rome report says Mr Churchills broadcast was only heard by a maximum of a few thousand throughout Italy, mainly foreign diplomats . and journalists. Several hundred Italians, mostly governmental and military Fascists, whose job is to check the foreign radio, also heard it, but not the bulk of the public, which was forbidden to listen in.

Members of the select Italian group who listened in expressed the opinion that the speech would probably be published in the Press with editorial comment. HALTING EFFORT ITALIAN RADIO REPLY. (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) ROME, December 25. A reply to Mr Churchill broadcasted in Italian and other languages from Italian radio stations enumerates disabilities to which Italy allegedly was subjected by Britain, minimises British help in Garibaldi’s time by suggesting Britain regarded Italy as a country likely to be useful to her Mediterranean aspirations and adds: “Italians know that Mr Churchill’s, honeyed words only mean that Britain wants to reduce Italy to the condition of a disguised British colony. We stand united around a man commanding our loyalty and representing our sentiments. We are resolved to carry on the war with energy, vigour and unflinching determination .”