Evening star., 1939-09-02
British and French
Offering Duce Lures
For Italian Help
Press Omits All Usuul
Praise of Pact Of Steel,
Even Prints Brituin's Side
~ the Associated Press.

ROME, Sept. 2.-As Great Britain
and France moved rapidly toward
decisive action against Germany,
Italy stood today by her assertion
she would take no initiative" in
military operations.
Neither official quarters nor the
controlled press gave any indication
that entry of Britain and France
into the conflict flaring along the
German Polish frontiers would
change Premier Mussolini's attitude.
Under the Italian German mill
tary alliance, Italy is pledged to
come to Germany's aid If she be-
comes involved in war from any
reason. In the Polish invasion, how
ever, Germany has told Italy she
does not need help.
Some Italians thought Germany
might not call Immediately for
Italian aid, even if Britain and
France did come in. on the basis
that Hitler is trying to localize the
strife.
These quarters thought that Ger
many, protected on the west by the
powerful defenses of the Siegfried
line, might feel she could easily
stave off a western invasion until
she had cleaned up Poland-and
then would proffer peace to Britain
and France.
Italy Watched Closely.
Diplomatic quarters watched
keenly for any hint of what Italy
would say if Germany called on her
for aid. Following conferences with
Foreign Minister Ciano yesterday,
there was widespread belief that the
British and French Ambassadors
were offering concessions in return
for Italian neutrality and, possibly,
greater ones, for Italian entry into
the war alongside Britain and
France.
Meanwhile, Hungary was reported
also to be watching Italy closely
and to be more inclined to follow
Mussolini than Hitler.
Newspapers were frankly pro-Ger-
man in their accounts of the situa-
ton, but they refrained from all
such exaltations of the pact of
steel binding Rome and Berlin as
were published daily until recently.
Italians and foreign observers
alike considered this especially sig
nifcant and thought it meant at
least that Mussolini was burning
no bridges behind him.
Britain's Side Published.
The press held Britain and France
responsible for the outbreak of hos
tilities. but the comment lacked the
extreme bitterness of other attacks
on those countries in recent years.
Mussolini's newspaper, II Popolo
DItalia, said Hitlers proposals to
avoid bloodshed with Poland were
fair, loyal and honorable, even
for Poland"
Morning newspapers published
part of Prime Minister Chamber
lain's speech in which he told the
House of Commons the final Hitler
proposals had never been submitted
to Poland and Britain in time for
their consideration. This was the
first indication to Italians that there
had been two sides to the highly
controversial question of the pro-
posals.
Up to now. only the German side
had been published here.
Italy remained calm. Newsboys
were prohibited from yelling head
unduly.
The government announced the
recruiting of 1000 youths for train
Ing as pilots.
The public was advised through
the newspapers to leave the city
for the country and was reminded
that train service was normal.
Each building was told to arrange
Its own emergency air shelter for
those forced to remain in the city
Gets Swiss Neutrality Note.
Italy received a Swiss declaration
that Switzerland will maintain and
defend with all the means at its dis
posal the inviolability of its terri
tory" and will renew the country's
war impartially.
raul Ruegger, 0WlSS Minister, VINO
presented the declaration, also hand
ed the foreign Office a neutrality
declaration on behalf of the princi-
pality of Leichtenstein.
Italy's attitude of "watchful wait
Ing was emphasized by Giovanni
Ansaldo, editor of the Clamp familys
newspaper, II TELEGRAPH of Leghorn.
Ansaldo expressed human SYM
pathy" for fighters of both sides,
especially Germans.
Regarding the particular situ-
alton in Italy it is one of
watchful waiting for development
of events" he wrote. Italy is to-
day more than ever at the orders
of II Duce in absolute and COM
plete unity of spirit"
Italy's coastal cities will continue
to be darkened nightly to accustom
the residents to this precaution. The
public was told that siren blasts
would announce air raids and that
to avoid confusion. factories would
cease blowing whistles. Peasants in
some sections were warned to keep