ITALY’S INTENTIONS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1940, Page 4

ITALY’S INTENTIONS.

QNCE again the air is full of reports that Italy is about to enter the war, the latest form being that “observers expect Italy to enter the war against, the Allies by June 12.” Doubtful as the authority of these reports may be, it is a definite factor in the situation that, instead of disowning and making an end of predictions of its intervention in the war, the Italian dictatorship has gone much out. of its way to create an atmosphere of uncertainty in regard to its intentions.

Even now it is hardly to be taken for granted that Italy will align herself with totalitarian aggression in accordance with current predictions. That Signor Mussolini will seek to make common cause with Nazi Germany if lie thinks that country likely to achieve victory or to force an indecisive peace is believed very generally. This in itself means only, however, that the Duce lias gained for himself the reputation of one who wishes to lead his country into a policy of international blackmail and traffic for illicit gain.

It has yet to be demonstrated finally that Italy will consent to be dragooned into war —there certainly are important elements in the country opposed to that course of criminality and folly—and even now the possibility perhaps is not to be dismissed that the Duce is finessing and cultivating German good will for the time being rather than preparing for war. It is well established in any ease that the day of a declaration of war by Italy would be a dark day for that country and that, much as the event admittedly would add to the immediate difficulties of the Allies, it would in no way weaken their resolve to prosecute their just cause to victory.