The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-08


 boycotted the conference Friday, Germany would do likewise. News. papers oil over the country, official ly guided, published prominently today Q brief dispatch in Premier Benito Mussolini's only newspaper, Popolo D,Italia, intimating strongly that Italy would not attend the con- ference if Russia did = and this was before the Soviet government note arrived.
 Sticks With Germany
 It was understood that Mussoltni was working in close cooperation with Fuehrer Adolf Hitler of Ger many and that if he did decide fine ally not to send delegates, Germany likewise would boycott the confer ence. There were reports that Mus solini and Germany were working on compromise proposal that would permit them = and even Russia to attend. But the POpolo DTtalia report was believed were to mean that there was not much hope that the compromise would be ac~ cepted. Popolo D'Italia's article was typical of Fascist publicity methods. It was masked under a London date line and published in bold face type on the first page:
 New Political Situation
 "In well informed quarters 1t IS observed that the Russian note to the Italian government (accusiflg Italy of Torpedoing merchant ship ping in the Mediterranean has caused a new political situation In which Italy, which already had taken under favorable consideration the proposal for a Mediterranean conference, will be forced to rnairl- tain that 1t Is no longer possible t0 send delegates if Russia participates" There was growing belief that Italy was likely to be made a sort of de" fendant at the Mediterranean con- ference, and that whether Musso- lini chose to be represented or not Fascist prestige might prove to be at stake. The government seemed deeply anxious over the situation caused by Russia's dcnunciation - and at the same time fully prepared to defend It's cause before or against any group of nations.
 Diplomats were even discussing the possibly of Q break in relations between Italy and Russia.
 Officials said that the foreign office was studying the new Russian note.
 It was suggested in authoritative quarters that Italy would repeat, within 24 hours, its refusal to accept any responsibility for attacks on Russian ships and its rejection of all Russian demands.
 Russia's attitude had changed the situation despite the governments apparent efforts, at least before the second note arrived, to ind some way by which 1t might attend the Mediterranean Conference along with Russia.
 Russia Is Persistent
 Moscow, Sept. p)--Russia, accepting Q British French invita- ton to a Mediterranean conference on the submarine menace, de- nounced again Italy today and de- manded that the high seas be made safe for merchant shipping. Rus sia's acceptance insisted that Ital- ian responsibility for attacks on shipping, in the interest of the Spanish Nationalist, be recognized as absolutely intolerable and ir- reconcilably contradictory to the most elementary rules of interna. tional law and humanitarian pril. ciples." Copies of the acceptance were handed to the British and French ambassadors. The demand was made also that the Spanish Loyalists, as constituting the ac- cepted government of Spain, be in- vited to the conference and 1t vels asked why Germany, a non-Medi- terranean nation was asked to at- tend.
 Believe Italy To Blame
 The whole acceptance of the in- vitation to Fridays submarine con- ference was based on the idea that Italian submarines were responsible for the attacks on merchant ship ping from end to end Of the Med- iterranean. Linked closely to this was the assertion: Tt Is quite ob- vious that these deeds of aggression committed on the high seas and di- rected against the shipping of peace-loving countries create a di- rect threat to European security and general peace" --.~.
 Maxim Litvinov, veteran commis- sar for foreign affairs, was expected to lead Russia's delegation to the conference. It was regarded as cer- tain here that he would take the offensive at the earliest moment and would not only accuse Italy but would demand that the con- ference CD declare Italy the sub- marine aggressor and (O take fotcible means to wipe the attack ing submarines from the sea.