The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-01
London Hopes Bombs Won't Darken Italian Embassy

By MILTON BRONNER NEA Service Staff Correspondent

NEA SerV1ce stan correspondent
 London, July High British so- ciety, which dearly loves its cock tails, probably hopes Premier Chamberlain won't be TOO severe on Benito Mussolini about those ship bombings of Spain. Because it would simply be too bad If any, thing should happen to cause Ital- ian Ambassador Dino Grandi to stop throwing those elegant parties here.
 The tall, bearded, 43-year-old easily smiling Grandi is a living barometer indicating relations be- tween his country and England.
 Thus:
 Stormy weather-no social do- ings.
 Sunny skies-open house for all London's society folk.
 During the troubled period when Mussolini was angry at England be- cause of her lead in sanctions against Italy as punishment for the war upon Ethiopia, the handsome Grosvenor Square embassy over which Grandi presides was muted and dark. When Premier Cham berlain and Mussolini made it up, Grandi began giving parties that made all London sit up and take notice.
 AS one bibulous guest put it: Dino not only does things in a grand manner, he does it Grandi and Grandi."
 Money Enough for Grandi
 Italy has to be careful of it's coin, needing it's foreign exchange for primary materials, but the Fascist hierarchy seemingly never stints its successful ambassador. To him is very largely due what friendship exists between Italy and England. Both Premier Chamberlain and Lord Haligax, British foreign sec retary, have paid royal tributes to his work.
 The result apparently has been that Rome has told Grandi he can go the limit. Tn mid-May he gave about the biggest cocktail party this ancient town ever saw. Two thousand guests were invited. Most of them came. Never was there such a crush. Some of the late corners almost tainted from thirst. They could see the fair oasis where drinks were tobe had. Only they could not reach the de- sired haven.
 On June 1, Grandi gave a dinner party in honor of his new friend, Premier Chamberlain. Some fifty guests gathered in the attractive house made rich with some of the finest Italian paintings and tap estries.
 Staged Comeback
 And shortly afterwards he gave a big evening party to meet the royal Duke and Duchess of Glou- cester. The golden-voiced tenor, Benjamino Gigli, came to the en- bassy to sing the choicest Italian chansons.
 This present happy chapter in Grandi'S life makes ridiculous the commiserations of the wisacres of a few years ago who were signing Poor Dino! Poor Dino" For he seemed to have had something of Humpty-Dumpty fall. Here is the story:
 A native of North Italy, Grandi became one of Mussolini's earliest converts. He was one of the leaders of the famous Blackshirt march on Rome in October, 1922. He was made Fascist deputy speaker of the chamber of deputies in 1924. From '25 to '32, he served as Italian dele gate to the League of Nations, from 1929 to 1892 as foreign minis ter.
 Then came the break. With one of the swift haenges for which MuSSolini is noted, Grandi found the skids put under him as cabinet minister. Instead, he was made ambassador to England. He was now subordinate of the foreign office over which he had presided.
 But Grandi bided his time. With the muss-up between Italy and Britain, his job assumed ever more importance. Now his star is once more in the ascendant.