“BRAVO TITO”

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20255, 26 July 1937, Page 8

“BRAVO TITO”

MUCH-DEBATED SALUTE.

TENOR CONGRATULATED. LOYALTY TO HIS COUNTRY. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Monday. “ Bravo, Tito. I embrace you,” this cable was received by the Italian tenor, Signor Tito Schlpa after the newspapers in Rome had reported the objections raised by the Sydney Alderman to the Fascist salute being given in the Town Hall. The message was signed by Signor Achille Starace, the Secretary of the Fascist National Party, and the singer believes it was sent at the instance of Signor Mussolini. Count 'Grandi, the Italian Ambassador in London, cabled, “I* read in the papers, with pride your decided answer for giving the Roman salute. Bravo I In this way Fascists must respond. 'Cheerio!” A handsome man, still on the sunny side of 50, vivacious and witty, Signor Schlpa, who Is a through passenger by the Mariposa for 'California on his return to Italy, told an Interviewer this morning, that shaking hands among Fasclstl was forbidden. “ I do not shake hands any more,” he said in broken English. “ I salute in the Roman fashion, sometimes when-I go on the platform, sometimes when I leave it. 1 have done It in many places—Paris, London, Berlin, Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Was I ever told I must not do it?—No, no, only by Alderman Grant, but he not stop me. I said I would not sing any more. It would not matter to me. I was only expressing loyalty to my country Just the same as you would express, by some action, loyalty to Great Britain. If somebody had come to me and said 4 Tito,’ please avoid any trouble; Just abstain from the salute because there is jealousy and feeling ‘maybe I would have said ‘all right,’ but I was provoked. The statement was made that I was the agent of a brutal Fascist Government and I said I will not stop in your country. As a good Italian l will always give the salute.” Suiting action to the word, Tito raised his right hand above his head. “ It is not something new; it is the old Roman salute, and has been known for thousands of years.” Signor Schipa said he has received congratulations from thousands of people In Australia on the stand he had taken. He replied to the newspaper article stating that Italy was a peaceful country. He said he was considering bringing to Australia and New Zealand next year his own opera company for, which he would have to ask the Government for support.