UNDERSTANDING URGED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 129, 1 May 1940, Page 7

UNDERSTANDING URGED.

MR MENZIES’ REMARKS. Speaking at the inauguration of the new broadcast in Italian from Australia, the Australian Prime Minister called on the Italian people for a better understanding ot ■ the British Empire and its people. “Between you and us there exists a well-established friendship and mutual respect. But to-day there is a war, and every nation looks on its neighbour with suspicion,” he said. Explaining tvliy Australia was at war • with Germany , Mr Menz’es said that 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 fight to retain that. Mr Menzies emphasised that Australia had been under no obligation to send a single man, gun, or ’plane overseas, but she bad willingly done so. He stressed that no nation was in a belter 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 Menzics added ho 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 ptople.