Rome, July 23. The Government-controlled Italian press launched an attack yesterday on Commander Stephen King-Hall, Óamed for his frank letters to the German people, and warned that such British "propaganda" might en-donger Anglo-Italian relations.
Premier Benito Mussolini's mouthpiece, Sr. Virginia Gayda, led the attack on the British writer in an editorial headed "Talking to You, Mr. King-Hall" and pointed in the "Giornale.d'Ttalia."
The editorial claimed that Commander King-Hall slandered the bravery of Italian soldiers in his letter to the German people. The letter, the editorial alleged, was distributed in Germany in an attempt to "spread war terror."
"We understand that even the British Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, himself inspired the contents. of the King-Hall letter, the paper said, ignoring the Briton's emphatic denials of any connection between his news letter and-the British Government, The editorial said that methods of propaganda" were endangering the peace of Europe and the duration of the Anglo-Italian agreement of April, 1938.
"Stephen King-Hall's letter was not the activity of a private madman," the editorial said. "It belongs to British foreign policy. It places us in the presence of acts involving the responsibility of the British Government."
After referring. to alleged slanders against the bravery of Italian troops, the editorial said:
"Mr. King-Hall threatens to compromise seriously the political and diplomatic relations so lengthily elaborated and settled after so many difficulties between Britain and Ttaly. In these relations, the essential part is represented by the system of accords of April 16, 1938, which were intended to guarantee peace and order in the Mediterranean and Red Sea and collaboration between London and Rome.
"Do King-Hall and his inspi want to direct the destructive of their paper bombardment also against'. these accords?"—United -Press, Statement on
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.