Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1939. MUSSOLINI ON PEACE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1939, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1939. MUSSOLINI ON PEACE.

TT is recorded of Signor Mussolini that, after reading with interest, some years ago, a serial discussion of his own character in a Fascist newspaper, he telegraphed to the prelect of the district in which the paper was published:— Be so good as to send for the editor and ask him to close his series of articles with the following statement: Inasmuch as Mussolini himself says that he does not know exactly what he s, is somewhat difficult for others to find out. An elaboration of this frank confession would be a natural accompaniment to the Duce’s latest pronouncements on J nlo pean affairs. Having done only less than Herr Hitler to impel Europe and the world into an overwhelming disaster of war Mussolini now has the astonishing effrontery to declare that any attempt to suggest that the Rome-Berlin Axis wants war is unjustified and that its policy is peace and collaboration. His assertion that Italy and Germany are working tor peace must be classed as a masterpiece of its kind—as bold an attempt as has ever been'made to prove that black is white. 1 People in countries like our own, in which news of European and world events circulates freely, will know-for themselves that in his latest'broadcast speech the Italian dictator has calmly inverted and reversed the facts of recent history. A warmonger will not convince any reasonably informed man or woman that he is a dove of peace simply by saying that le is a dove. Even in Italy and Germany, where accurate news as far as possible is suppressed and replaced by State propagancla and dictation, a speech like that of Mussolini maj be expected to raise much questioning. In the extent to which they are still able to see and to think, Italians and Germans are bound to ask themselves why, if Italy and Germany, as Mussolini says, “are working for peace,” it has been necessary to convert these two nations into armed camps and to sacrifice and subordinate'social welfare and progress to the expansion of armies and armaments. The bearers of the burdens thus imposed must feel that the bm dens are strange ones indeed to be imposed by 7 nations, or rather by dictatorships; which claim to be ‘‘working lor peace. Over a considerable part of the world, fortunately, there is a perfectly 7 clear perception of what the totalitarian dictatorships have done towards establishing the rule of brute force. Apart from the violent aggression of which the dictatorships have been guilty in Abyssinia, Spain, Austria, Czechoslovakia _ and elsewhere and from the deliberately provocative and underhand tactics Mussolini has adopted of late towards France, the character and quality 7 of the dictatorships is sufficiently 7 attested in the rigorous suppression within their own territories of al] freedom of speech and action. Mussolini’s latest speech is simply 7 a tissue of impudent nonsense. If it has any significance it is in the suggestion it conveys that he and his fellow dictator, Herr Hitler, feel bound to abate their pretensions and retreat before that awakening and rearming of the free nations which they 7 profess to regard with contempt. For the sake of humanity 7 in general it must be hoped that Mussolini’s bombastic vapourings have this measure of real significance. At a direct view, however, his speech will command a respectful hearing only’ from those, particularly 7 in his own country, who are not in a position to give it anything else. The speech is remarkable chiefly’ for its' violent overturning of the facts of totalitarian aims and action and for its' flat contradiction of many 7 of Mussolini’s own repeated utterances. If, however, this queer outpouring, has any value or meaning at all, it implies that the spirit of aggression, for reasons that may’ be perceived and appreciated, is a little less'in favour than it was at the Italian end of the Axis.

THE DRAMA LEAGUE.

VARIOUS organisations th rough out the Wairarapa are playing a worthy part in promoting dramatic art and amongst them • the district branch of the Drama League takes an honourable and central place. The direct and indirect results of the work of the league over a period of years have been excellent and the organisation is to be congratulated upon the spirit of enterprise and practical enthusiasm in which plans for extended activities were shaped at its annual meeting last. Monday evening. The right spirit was shown in a recommendation to the incoming committee to hold a drama school this year and in the arrangements made to get into direct touch with dramatic organisations in other parts ol the district. As those who have witnessed amateur productions in the larger centres will bear witness, the Wairarapa Ims attained highly creditable standards in various branches of theatrical art. Thanks to the well-directed activities of the Drama League and other organisations, excellent provision is made for eiieouraging and fostering youthful talent as it appears and also for enabling more experienced players to attain progressively higher standards of achievement. From an educational and cultural standpoint and on' account of the agreeable entertainmenl it provides, the amateur drama has every claim to the liberal public - support it is usually accorded. True as it may be that “The play's the thing,” a great deal depends on the place in which the play is presented. The Wairarapa on the whole is fortunate in the theatres available to amateur players and Masterton is particularly fortunate in possessing, in the Opera House, a very fine community theatre. Besides being well worth while for its own sake, an enterprising development of the amateur drama is one of the things needed to justify the action of the Trust Lands Trust in restoring .a nd reconditioning the Opera House at very considerable expense. With other entertainmenl organisations, the amateur dramatic societies look an active part in inducing the 1 rust to iin<l<*rlak<* the restoration of the Opera House and they should see to it that, so far as they are concerned, the fullest possible use is made of Hie community theatre during the coming winter and time goes on.