Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1940. ITALY MAKES THE PLUNGE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TU ESDA Y, JUNE 11, 1940. ITALY MAKES THE PLUNGE.

THOUGH it will not be welcomed, Italy’s declaration of war on Britain and France does not come unexpectedly and the principal immediate effect is to give the Allies added reasons for prosecuting the war against totalitarian aggression with unshaken resolution. It is, of course, not to e c emet that the Italian intervention must make the position m B rance more than ever critical. On the other hand, it is as little m doubt that if the Allies can withstand and stem the main power of the enemy offensive, Italy, in a continuing war, wi ean element of weakness rather than strength in the totalitarian partnership. Economically she is in a high degree depenc en on external -trade and correspondingly vulnerable to blockade Her ability in other respects to bear an extended strain ot war is extremely open to doubt. Mussolini obviously is gambling recklessly and staking all his hopes on an early totalitarian victory to which Italy will not be called upon to make any very important contribution. The outcome remains to be determined, but the shameless depravity of the policy to which Italy is meantime committed by her dictator stands out very clearly. Mussolini has extended the traditions of Kome by reducing Italy to the status of a jackal among the nations.