BROADCAST TO ITALY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 183, 30 April 1940, Page 8

BROADCAST TO ITALY

Australian Prime Minister LONDON, April 29. Speaking at the inauguration of the new broadcast in Italian from Australia, the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, called on the Italian people for a ■better understanding of the British Empire and its people. “Between you and us there exists a well-established friendship and mutual respect. But today there is a war, and every nation looks on its neighbour with suspicion.” Explaining why Australia was at war with Germany, Mr. Menzies said Hint Australia would live and die with Britain. They loved their freedom and independence, which they enjoyed as part of the British Empire, and/were prepared to tight to retain tliat.

Mr. Menzies emphasized that Australia had been under no obligation to send a single man, gun or plane overseas, but she had willingly done so. He stressed that no nation was in a better position than Italy to understand the fate of Norway and Denmark and of other small powers which had suffered at the hands of a brutal invader because of her nearness to the scene of these struggles. Mr. Menzies added he felt that a nation such as Italy, which had enriched the character of mankind by innumerable cultural contributions, would not follow the line of brute force already demonstrated by one powerful European nation. It was against such brute force and aggression that the British Empire was fighting, a cause which he felt sure must have the sympathy of the Italian people.