ITALY’S COURSE SET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1939, Page 5

ITALY’S COURSE SET

MUSSOLINI DEFINES HIS CLAIMS

WARNING TO DEMOCRACIES AGAINST COALITION.

ROME-BERLIN AXIS SOLID.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.

(Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) ROME, March 26.

Addressing 100,000 Black Shirts Signor Mussolini, in the uorurn, said: “Thousands of comrades have fallen like heroes in Italy, Africa and Spain. Their memory is ever present in our hearts. Some meanwhile may have grown slack but the men of the old battalions are ready to level rifles, even as in the old days. The Fascist revolution is not finished, on the contrary in many respects it has just begun. What we have done will remain for centuries. It pays to remember how often triumphant demo-plutocratic liars have announced to their flocks the imminent ruin of Fascist Italy, because Italy has been bled in Africa and Spain and is urgently in need of a loan, which naturally could not be other than British. What we have done is important but what we have to do yet is more important. We will do it because my will knows no obstacles. We are meeting in a troubled moment of European history but we will not let ourselves be a prey to war psychosis, which is a mixture of hysteria and fear. Our course is set and our principles clear. Despite the fact that the word peace has been worn through use and rings untrue, like a spurious coin, and, despite Italy’s belief that permanent peace would be a catastrophe for civilisation, Italy considers a long peace necessary for the development of European civilisation but, despite urgings Italy will not take the initiative to preserve peace until her sacred rights are recognised and satisfied.” r Any attempts to break the RomeBerlin axis, continued the Du’ce, were puerile. If a democratic coalition was created the totalitarian powers would abandon defensive tactics and assume the offence. What had happened in Central Europe was inevitable. Italy wanted the world to know that the Italian note sent to France on December 17 had defined Italy’s claims against France as Tunisia, Jibuti and the Suez Canal. One should no longer speak of a Franco-Italian brotherhood. The relations between the two States were based on strength. Power in the Mediterranean was vital for Italy, economically, politically and militarily. This was also true of the Adriatic. Italy had to arm regardless of cost. OPINION IN LONDON CAREFUL STUDY OF SPEECH BEING MADE. NO UNFAVOURABLE FACTOR INTRODUCED. (British Official Wireless.' (Received This’Day, 9.45 a.m.) , RUGBY, March 25. Signor Mussolini’s speech in Rome is being studied carefully in London and meanwhile considered comment is withheld.

On a preliminary reading of the speech the first impression in authoritative quarters is that its terms do not belie the general expectations formed after the recent utterance by the King of Italy and it does not appear to introduce any new or unfavourable factor into the disturbed European situation. It was anticipated that the speech would be characterised by ine customary vigour and pugnacity and it does not lack these qualities but in regard to its substance the view is taken that there is little in the speech that can be described as unduly aggressive. Loyalty to the German-Italian axis, which is expressed, has not prevented the Duce from laying special emphasis upon particular needs of Italy and these passages are receiving special attention. Signoi’ Mussolini’s insistence on the necessity for Europe enjoying a long period of peace will be warmly endorsed in London and in this connection a careful study is being given to references in the speech to Italian aspirations, for it is felt in London that there is still time for Italy and France to negotiate for a settlement of their differences. Nothing in the speech seems calculated to check such a development. Threatening language has been avoided and the Italian claims do not go beyond what is familiar ground. Italy's needs in the Mediterranean and the'Adriatic also are well understood. NO NEW CRISIS VIOLENT PARTS OF SPEECH FOR HOME CONSUMPTION. DOOR OPEN FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCE. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON. March 26. Signor Mussolini's speecn diet not fulfil the premonitions that it would create a new crisis. The first impressions in London are that though the speech, as usual, is violent for his own followers’ consumption, it left the door open for Franco-Italian negotiations while dragging in the Adriatic in references to the Mediterranean. This is interpreted as a hint to Herr Hitler that the Duce will look askance at any adventure in Yugoslavia, designed tc give Germany an Adriatic port.

READY TO NEGOTIATE IF INITIATIVE COMES FROM PARIS. BELIEF IN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day. 10.50 a.m.) ROME, • March 26. Diplomatic circles declare that the Duce merely developed the King’s statement and 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 he managed to sandwich into his fighting words a peaceful statement of-Italy’s demands. FRENCH VIEW. LITTLE EFFECT ON GENERAL SITUATION. 'lndependent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) PARIS. March 26. It is considered that Signor Mussol-

ini’s speech neither aggravates nor relieves the situation. TROOPS DEMONSTRATE. “TUNISIA, NICE. SAVOY.” (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) ROME, March 26. Thousands of Fascist troops demonstrated in the Piazza Venezia, shouting “Tunisia, Nice, Savoy.” Signor Mussolini appeared four times on the balcony, smiling and saluting.

DEBT OWING BY FRANCE UNDISCHARGED PLEDGE OVER ABYSSINIA. SANCTIONS-AN ACT OF WAR. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrieht LONDON. March 26. An article written by the Italian publicist Signor Gavda in the “Sunday Disnatch” outling the basis of the Italian claims against France declares that M Laval, when Prime Minister of France, promised Italy a free hand in Abyssinia in fulfilment of Franco’s acknowledged colonial debt to Italy.

Later M Laval participated in sanctions, which was an act of war. Thus France’s debt to Italy remained undischarged.