Cairo, June 13.
Egypt today moved slowly toward war with Italy, her Empire neighbour to the west, after a stern warning against infringement of Egyptian territory which followed a unanimous vote by both Houses of Parliament severing diplomatic relations between the two countries, The Italian Minister was reported to have been handed his passport.
The Premier, Aly Maher Pasha, stated that Egypt's attitude will be basically a defensive one, but she was resolved to "reply if any inch of Egyptian land, military objective or not, is bombed or if there are any Egyptian casualties. In such a case she surely will declare war."
Diplomatic sources pointed out that if King Farouk issues a royal declaration, approving the Parliament's decision, Egypt would be brought to the brink of war with Italy.
'The Chambers' action was reported to have taken place following the receipt of an ultimatum from Italy which the Italian Minister to Cairo was said to have handed to the Egyptian Government yesterday morning. Italian officials in Rome, however, denied that an ultimatum had been handed to Egypt.
Reports from Rome said Italy w: investigating claims that British ai craft were using Egyptian airports as bases for bombing raids over Ethiopia and Cyrenaica, indicating that Italy's attitude toward Egyptian neutrality would undergo a radical change if the charge was confirmed—United Press.
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