London, Jan. 21.
"It is learned on excellent authority that during the last day or so, the Italian Government has approached the German Government asking what the attitude of Berlin would be to possible' Russian expansion in the Balkans," states a diplomatic correspondent of the "Sunday Times."
Italy, according to this source of information, made it clear to Germany that such Russian penetration could not be tolerated and Italy would have to reserve full liberty for action in the event of any definite Russian movements.
The activities of Communists in south-east Europe have been reaffirmed, it is reported, and Signor Virginia Gayda, who is credited with being Signor Mussolini's mouthpiece, writing in the "Sunday Dispatch" declares "if. Communism should attempt an advance towards zones of vital interest to Europe and Italy, Fascism will know how to reply."—Reuter.
London, Jan 21.
Dealing with the present war in his article in the "Sunday Dispatch," Signor. Gayda stressed that the Allies would be wrong to underestimate the power of resistance of the Germans, for the Reich has accumulated large reserves of gold and raw materials indispensable to the continuation of the war. The war threatens to ruin Germany but will also exhaust the democracies, he added, and the net result will be the weakening of Europe in general.
Although Italy has no aggressive intentions against Soviet Russia, she cannot permit an expansion of Bolshevism to other parts of Europe, he said.
With the Versailles Treaty having increased instead of diminished the disparity in the resources of European nations, Italy needs a fertile soil on which her population can develop: The Italian people merely wish to be able to do constructive work in a. peaceful Europe—Havas,' Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.