DOOR STILL LEFT OPEN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 9

DOOR STILL LEFT OPEN

Duce’s Speech Belies Fears Of New Crisis FIGHTING WORDS FOR HOME CONSUMPTION (Independent Cable Service.) LONDON, March 26. Signor Mussolini’s speech has not fulfilled premonitions that it would create a new crisis. The first impressions in London are that, though the speech, as usual, was violent for the purpose of consumption by Signor Mussolini’s own followers, it left the door open for negotiations between France and Italy.

The dragging in of the Adriatic in the Duce’s references to the Mediterranean is interpreted as a hint to Herr Hitler that Signor Mussolini would look askance upon an adventure in Yugoslavia designed to give Germany a port in the Adriatic.

It is considered in Paris that Signor Mussolini’s speech neither aggravates nor relieves the situation.

Diplomatic circles in Rome declare that the Duce merely developed King Victor Emmanuel’s statement that Italy is prepared to negotiate with France, though she expects the initiative to come from Paris.

It is pointed out that the Duce could not make a speech of diplomatic niceties when speaking to the Fascist Old Guard, but that he managed to sandwich into fighting -words a peaceful statement of his demands. Newspaper Comment.

“The Times,” in a leader, expresses the opinion that Signor Mussolini’s speech is at least a fresh starting point in European affairs. France has long been ready, says the paper, to negotiate about Jibuti, the Suez Canal, and Tunisia, but it would be easier if Signor Mussolini had not so freely abused the democracies and praised the mailed fist.

If tlie totalitarian leaders really believe that it is good to dispense with civilian life, and that perpetual peace would be a catastrophe, the democracies must part company with them. It is strange to read that, if the democracies unite to defend themselves, the authoritarian Powers will pass from defence to counter-attack. A sudden, brutal and ruthless attack came from the authoritarian regimes in Abyssinia, Manchukuo, China, and Central EurojX!. The “Daily Telegraph” says that the speech was inconclusive, but altogether it left the impression that Signor Mussolini now prefers a negotiated settlement to an opeu breach, which he formerly appeared to be courting. The “News Chronicle” says that, if France decided to negotiate, she would be well advised to see that any concessions she might make would not weaken her security. DUCE’S MESSAGE TO HITLER ROME, March 26. Signor Mussolini telegraphed to Herr Hitler as follows:—“A new conception of life unites our two revolutionary movements, which are destined to overthrow the reactionary conservative positions of the Old World and eliminate the danger of Bolshevism. “'Phis will rebound to the benefit of our peoples and will ensure the peaceful development of European civilization on a new basis.”