London, May 14, According to reports not officially confirmed but reliable, renewed assurances that Italy does not intend to change her attitude for the time being were given American diplomatic representatives in Rome, Nevertheless, it is considered here that the situation in Italy should be watched most carefully as it is believed that the question of troop passage was actively discussed between Rome and Berlin recently, It does not seem, however, that any definite decision has been taken—Havas, Italy to Gain Oil Fields Rome, May 14.
Agitation against the Allies increased in the Italian Senate today, with Senators accusing England and France of monopolizing Europe's oil and preventing Italy from becoming self-sufficient.
A veiled threat was seen by political observers in the statement by Senator Silvia Gay this morning promising that IL Duce would soon settle Italy's oil requirements. Sig. Gay, speaking in the name of the Ministry of Public Works, said that, although the United States and England hold a monopoly on oil, "the time is coming when the situation will be changed."
"Almost all known oil is in the bands of England and France," Sig. Gay pointed out, "Italy has none. It has been said that we arrived late, but at Versailles we arrived before many others. Despite this, nothing was done. On the contrary, the monopoly existing before the war retained its useless recrimination... and it is sufficient to note that this monopoly has not settled its accounts, which will sooner or later fall due. The oil question can be settled completely and definitely. I have faith li free Italy from this Sig. Gay declared.
Senator Giuseppe Bluzzo, speaking on Italy's self-sufficiency in the Senate today, accused the Democracies of fighting against self-sufficiency, "since that would be instrumental in increasing Italy's power."
"The plutocracies are our enemies," Sig. Bluzzo declared, "They look with suspicion and envy on Italy, who is conquering her place in the sun. The plutocracies will not prevail since science is the powerful ally and sword of the proletarian peoples."—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.