Britain and Italy in the Mediterranean
It was a wise step on the part of Sir Percy Loraine, the British Ambassador in Rome, to visit Malta, where contra- band control of cargoes bound to or from Germany is exercised, with a view to persuading the naval authorities there to do their utmost to smooth out difficulties and avoid unnecessary delays. Some friction between belligerents and neutrals over contraband is inevitable, the more so when the neutral is a Great Power like Italy. In point of fact, Italy does not, it is understood, challenge the principle of the contraband control—she assented fully to precisely the same measures when she was our ally in the last war—but the working of it is causing some irritation. The causes of that we shall do well to reduce to a minimum, for while Italy as a whole is displaying entirely cordial feelings towards this country, there are various anti-British speakers and writers who welcome any material for charges against Great Britain. Signor Gayda has just been telling Italian school- children in a broadcast that Italy is a " prisoner " in her own sea because Great Britain commands Suez and Gibral- tar. When has Britain ever used her occupation of either of those bases to Italy's detriment? Co-operation between Britain and Italy in the Mediterranean means added security of transit for both.
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