The times-news., 1938-12-05
MESSAGES OF
LOYALTY POUR
into CAPITOL
Fortnight Steps Planned
to Learn Aims Of Rome
Tokyo.Berlin Axis
ITALY MAY BLUFF TO
PREPARE FOR CLAIMS

PARIS, Dec. B. (UP)--Premier
Dahdier today replied to Italian
agitation for the possession of
French Tunis in North Africa and
the island Of Corsica with a state
ment declaring that France will
defend the integrity of all her
possessions.
Daladier said he had received
thousands Of kilograms of loyalty
from Corsica and Tunis, proving
the French are ready to hold
their possessions wherever the
Tricolor floats. The statement
hailed demonstrations in Corsica
and Tunis against Italy ~ q re-
ply to clamorous demand by mem
bers Of the Italian chamber Of
deputies for cession to Italy Of
French North African posses
sions.
Meantime the outbreak of new
strikes threatened Paris as the
government. prepared to welcome
German Foreign Minister Won
Ribbentrop, due tomorrow to sign
the Franco-German peace declar-
alton. The maritime strike con-
tinued to immobilize 38 ships.
PARIS, Dec. g. (UP)-France
last night prepared to ask Ger
many for a Crank explanation"
Of reports that Italy's hostile agi-
tation against French Mediterra-
mean possessions is the result of
a Rome Berlin: Tokyo agreement
dividing up zones Of worldwide
expansion. =.
Premier Edouard Daladier
summoned his cabinet to meet in
an extraordinary session to dis
cuss the reports and place them
before German Foreign Minister
Joachim Won Ribbentrop when he
arrives In Paris Tuesday morning.
The strained relations between
Italy and France were aggravated
further yesterday by disorderly
protests against Italy in Tunis, on
the Island Of Corsica and among
Corsicans In Paris, Strasbourg,
Casablanca, Rabat and other parts
of the empire where mass oaths
were taken to olive and die
French"
Ribbentrop will be asked to
state whether there is truth in a
report that Rome, Berlin and To-
kyo, acting under their tri-power
alliance against communism, have
agreed upon a division Of zones
Of influence and expansion.
According to the reports, Rome
and Berlin have agreed to give
Japan a free-hand in China while
Italy and Japan will give Ger
many domination over central and
southeastern Europe while Italy
is being urged to expand south
wards across Africa.
Many French observers are con-
vinced that in order to keep Italy
out of Danubia and prevent her
from supporting demands for
common Polish Hungarian from
tier by means Of the further dis
memberment of Czechosloyakia,
Chancellor Adolf Hitler has con-
sented to support a new Italian
bid for, Mediterranean power at
the expense Of Britain and
France.
Thus, 1t was said, Italy would
try to achieve her ambition on
making the Mediterranean q fas-
cist "mare nostrum" while Ger
many pursues her "drang mach o.
ten," or drive to the east.
The French government ap-
peared to doubt that Hitler would
20 to war to plant Italy in Tuni-
sia, Savoy or Corsica.
The general impression Is that
Mussolini, instead Of demanding
territorial concessions from
France, actually seeks political
concessions in Tunisia, which he
regards as "Italy's Sudetenland."
He was believed to be seeking
the right Of self determination
for the thousands of Italians in
Tunisia.
British Ambassador Sir Eric
Phipps conferred with Bonnet
(Contjnued on page four)