ITALY’S POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1930, Page 6

ITALY’S POLICY

MUSSOLINI’S VERSION. United Press Association. — By Electric Telegraph .—Copyright, i ROME, Nov. 23. Italy’s policy of peacie and preparedness was declared by Signor Mi'rssolinj in a special interview. He declared: ‘‘We shall always be ready to discuss disarmament at Geneva, and shall always be ready to reduce our armaments to the lowest possible limit, if the other Powers do the same, provided that our level equals that of anyone else in Europe; but so long, as others arm, Italy must. Italy is Seeking everywhere to increase her population, partly to be able to defend the country and partly to wrest from the country its unreaped riches by large irrigation schemes.” He said:—“Fascism is re-making both Italy and Italians. I am seeking to mould out of our great past energy, discipline and strength for the future: and, within a quarter of a cent-ury. the world will bo astonished at our transformation. Italy does not desire conquest, but she is seeking to recover from her sense of inferiority dating since the Renaissance. Formerly. Italy was cited as a model nation, both morally and physically. Then she became sick. She was just recovering from her decline when the war tame, and it left her on the verge of, chaos;,' Then • Fascism came. It has 1 triumphed over the worst phases of the nation’s sickness. Before the war people’ came and admired the beauties of Italy, but tliev looked down on the ' Italians,” Ttalv. he added, had recovered, and’ she did not intend to reln.nse. Phr neighbours need not be alarmed at the patient’s recovery. After all, Ttalv was the cradle of civilisation and of i Christianity.” 1