Evening star., 1940-06-02
Fascist Chiefs Urge
Foreign Hold Upon
Trade Be Broken
Decision by MussoIini
Within Week or 10
Days Is Indicated
By the Associated Press.


By the Associated Press.
ROME, June IA new exchange
between President Roosevelt and
Premier Mussolini was reported to-
night, while Italy's warlike motions
multiplied, especially near the
French border.
The messages, reported by a
source usually competent, were de-
scribed as courteous" although
their exact nature was not divulged.
tThe White House threw no
light on the reported new eX-
change of messages. Informed of
the reports from Rome that there
had been such an exchange.
Stephen Early, the Presidents
press secretary, would say only
that there had been an almost
continuous exchange between the
President and the heads of vari-
Gus governmentS)
The impression prevailed in dip
lomatic circles, however, that the
reported exchange had not retarded
Italian war measures.
The Fascist party's national coun-
Gil tonight adopted a resolution ask
ing Mussolini to break the foreign
stranglehold" on Italy's commerce
and give her freedom of the seas" ."
The resolution declared that the
Italian people were "defrauded" by
the sacrifice of 100000 men in the
World War, made the object of
tniquitous sanctions when thev
wished win a place in the sun"
and now are ready for any test"
Britain led the movement for
sanctions against Italy during the
Italian conquest of Ethiopia)
Army Rallies End June 10.
Some diplomats, surprised at the
delay in action if Italy really means
to go to war, wondered whether the
intensified preparations were bluff
to keep 100000 French and Brit
ish troops immobilized on Mediter-
ranean fronts. Italian papers are
frankly emphasizing how much this
helps Germany's attacks in the
north.
A number of indications, however,
pointed to some decision within the
next week or 10 days. For one
thing, the last of series of army
rallies is scheduled for June 10.
Americans, pouring into Genoa
to catch the homeward- bound
United States liner Manhattan, de-
scribed battle preparations in Lii
gurian ports.
They said troops. in the ports
facing Corsica, were on the move
toward the French frontier: that
munitions were being unloaded from
railway lines and that fiat cars with
heavy artillery were much in evi-
dence.
The Manhattan's sailing was de-
ferred until tomorrow because of
the crush of passengers.
The ship will carry nearly 1000
persons, most of them Americans,
to the United States. Line officials
had to turn away some who offered
as much as 1000 for a third-class,
$500 ticket. However, the liner
President Harrison arrived to take
care of part of the overflow.
10000 Nom CONS Called.
Ten thousand non-commissioned
officers, supplementing a force of
$4,000 modified last autumn, were
called to the colors.
war maneuverS were reported un-
der way in the north of Italy. One
full army corps was engaged near
Florence
With Italian papers reprinting
Spanish news stories disputing the
British right to Gibraltar. a Span
ish military mission passed through
Milan on its way to Berlin. This
was part of party of 80 high-rank-
Ing air and navy officers who came
to Genoa under the command of
Gen. Rada.
Importance was attached to the
cabinet meeting next Tuesday. The
Fascist press indicated, also, that
the conference at German western
front headquarters yesterday be-
tween Adolf Hitler and italian Am
bassador Dino Alfieri was, perhaps,
fateful.
The government provided for
month-to-m month financing of it's
needs by the issue of treasury bonds.
Groups of Italians continued to
volunteer for service in the COM
ing war of liberation" from Allied
control of the Mediterranean. Their
messages poured in on Mussolini.
Crown Prince Umberto and Mar
shal Graziani, CO. commanders of the
Italian armed forces, went to Genoa
for 3-day rally of grenadier regi-
ments. The Prince is going to an
infantry regiment rally at Fiume
June to 10.
Italy Blamed for Talk Break.
The French decision announced
IN Paris today to withhold approval
of commercial and economic accords
with Italy followed the rupture in
contraband control negotiations be-
tween Great Britain and Italy.
The British Embassy press rep
resentative said in a bulletin that
the Italian government was re-
sponsible for the breakdown in ne
gotiations over contraband control.
This was the first reference to the
matter by British officials here.
The Embassy bulletin also said
that despite "the pressure exerted
by the officially controlled Italian
press and wireless British gov
ernment circles deny. that any in
timation has been received as to
the intentions of Signor Mussolini."
The bulletin added:
Should Signor Mussolini bring