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I ENGLAND NOT TO CEDE j ANY TERRITORY TO ITALY LONDON, England, Dec. 19. Reports that Great Britain is planning cession of colonial territory to Italy were denied by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. In terms far stronger than he used in discussing Reichsfeuhrer Adolf Hitlers colonial aspirations before the House of Commons, Chamberlain said he was "glad to categorically deny" rumors that Britain is planning to cede territory to Italy. In reply to a specific question, Chamberlain declared that Italy had never suggested that Britain cede British Somaliland as one means of satisfying Premier Mussolinis territorial ambitions. At the same time he made it clear that II Duce faces definite opposition if he has any aspirations with regard to the Suez ! Canal. The prime minister assured questioners that the status of Britains gateway to the East could not be altered without consent signatories to the 1888 Suez convention. Under terms of the Anglo-Italian agreement, Chamberlain said, Mussolini re-affirmed his intention of respecting this convention.
