Evening star., 1940-05-14
briton Identified
As Viscount Slapped
AT Night Club
Demonstrators Curry
Coffins Corieoturing
Allied Nations
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
ROME, May 14.-Shouting stu
dents burned British and French
nag on a simulated CONN before
the British Embassy today in q
new outburst Of anti-allied dem
onstrations.
Earlier they had demonstrated
at the French Embassy and then
marched across town to Porta Pia,
the famous gate in Roman wall
adjacent to the embassy.
Several Thousand students were
halted by barrier OF armed troops
at the British Embassy.
Massing short distance away,
however, they set fire to the coffin
and threw their clubs on it to make
. bonfire.
Before they disbanded, a Fascist
official in Blackshirt uniform con-
graduated them on a magnificent
demonstration: told them their cry
was "a war cry"
Mussolini Cheered.
He declared France and Britain
must understand that Italy would
never remain a prisoner In the
Mediterranean.
Premier Mussolini drove by the
bonfire on his way home to lunch
and was loudly cheered.
In Milan, approximately 5000 stu
dents paraded for more than an
hour, cheering Mussolini and Hitler
and shouting;
Down with England!
Down with France!'
Armed troops stood guard before
a huge throng in front of the
French Embassy after about 5000
others mad massed under Premier
Mussolini's balcony and clamored In
vain for a speech.
A column of several thousand
schoolboys, ranging In age from II
up, marched to the French En-
bassy through congested down.
town streets.
Coffin Wrapped in Flag.
They carried a coffin wrapped in
the French flag with an umbrella
on top, caricature of France la
beled Poor Chamberlain's fisher
woman" and another of England
with the title, Her boy friend
Besides italian flags the students
had one big swastika banner and
onnther urfth thu 1onovl OTox,x,
with the French republic"
Most of the boys carried clubs
but apparently only for appear
ances. There was no effort to WELD
them. Interspersed in the crowd
were several hundred schoolgirls.
striving to keep up under the bur-
den of their school bags and books.
The British were expected to pro-
test to Italian authorities over the
slapping of a Briton identified as
Lord Philip Hardwicke, Viscount
Royston, at fashionable night club
last night by an Italian distributing
anti-British leaflets. The incident
was said to have occurred wnen
the earl, personal friend of Bruno
Mussolini, refused to read a leaflet
laid on his table by the Italian.
Brussels Street Erased"
Paper was pasted over signs mark
ing Brussels street. This, however
appeared to be the work of irrespon-
sible persons, since the organized
demonstrations have been directed
chiefly at England, and some at
France.
More responsible actions appeared
to be the distribution of anti-British
folders among bus passengers and
q handbill campaign.
The patrons of one popular Eng
Ish tearoom said they were pre-
vented from taking their customary
tea yesterday afternoon by anti
British groups which effectively
routed traffic away from the en-
trance.
Everywhere stories were circulated
Of street incidents and molestations
of English people and their italian
sympathizers.
Most of these reports could not
be checked, but various persons re-
ported seeing gangs Of young 1tal-
fans making the rounds Of the city
on the lookout for persons at
tempting to tear down anti-British
posters.
Demonstrations Widespread.
Reports of organized student and
young Fascist demonstrations came
from virtually every city.
Uniformed quarters in London
asserted that British consuls in
Italy were advising British citi-
zens who have no good reasons
for remaining to leave. Such ad-
vice is given only upon inquiry,
these quarters said, and there is
no general recommendation. It
was asserted, however, that a
condition of uncertainty" still
exists regarding British-1talian
relations.)
Just as large numbers of Scan.
dinavians left Italy at the time o.
Germanys invasion of Denmark
and Norway, many Dutch citizens
are reported to be leaving Italy now
some after consulting the Neither.
lands Legation. A number Of then
were bound for France.
Various explanations were Offered
by diplomats to explain these out.
bursts coming at this time.
Pro-Naxi Feeling Believed Sought.
Some thought 1t might be ar
affort IN divert British and Frencr