ITALY AND PEACE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 140, 27 March 1939, Page 5

ITALY AND PEACE

SACRED RIGHTS DEMANDED. i SPEECH BY SIGNOR MUSSOLINI. MEDITERRANEAN AND ADRIATIC (United Press Association— Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) ROME, March 26.Addressing 100,000 black shirts in the Forum Signor Mussolini said: “Thousands of our comrades have fallen like , heroes in Italy, Africa and Spain. Their memory, is ever present in our hearts. Some meanwhile may have grown.-slack, hut the men or the old battalions are ready to level thenrifles, even 'as in the old days. The Fascist revolution is not finished, on the contrarv, in many respects it has just begun ‘ What we have done will remain for centuries. . ' “It pays to remember how often triumphant deniorplutoeratic liars 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 natur- ' ally' could not be .'other than British. What W 6 have "done is important but what we have tn do yet is more important. We will do it because my will knows no obstacle. “Wfe are meeting a troubled moment in 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 are clear. Despite the fact that 'the word ‘peace’ has been worn thi ough use and rings untrue like a spurious coin, and despite Italy’s belief that permanent peace would be a. catastrop e 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 are .satisfied. : '.. All attempts to undermine the axis were puerile*, said Signor Mussolini. The axis was not merely a relation between two States hut a relationship between two revolutions, which were completely antithetic to all other contemporv civilisations. What had happened in-Central Europe was inevitable. If the great democracies wept over the premature rather shameful end of what they considered their most cherished creature that was an excellent reason for Italy not to associate herself with their tears. If they hoped for a coalition created against authoritarians they would accept the challenge and would pass to defence andl counterattack throughout the world. “In a speech at Genoa' I spoke about the barricade separating Italy and France,” continued II Duce. “This can be considered as fairly demolished. Within days,'maybe hours, the magnificent infantry in Spain will give the last stroke. I want the world to know that the’ Italian Note to France on December 17 set" out. the problems as to Tunis, Djibouti, and the Suez Canal. France is perfectly frSe'th refuse even to discuss the problems, as she has done thus far, with perhaps oycr-categorical ‘nevers.’ But France will have itself to blame if the ditch now dividing Italy and France becomes so wide that it will be hard l or impossible to bridge. The Mediterranean is vital for Italy geographically, militarily, politically and economically. When we say the Mediwe - include the Adriatic, where permanent, hut not exclusive, Italian interests, are recognised by Jugoslavia. It is necessary to arm. The watchword is r More'guns, more ships and more aeroplanes,’ regardless of cost aiid by whatever methods, even if it entails complete change of so-called civilised life.- -I ask -you 'do you want 'honour, rewards and an easy life ? Is anything impossible to you?” ' The concourse answered with a thunderous “No.” HINT TO HERR HITLER. DESIGNS ON ADRIATIC PORT. IL DUGE LOOKS ASKANCE. (Independent Cable Service). (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, March 20. -Signor Mussolini’s speech did not fulfil premonitions or create a new crisis. The first impressions in London are that though the speech as usual was violent for her own followers’ consumption, it left the door open for FrancoItalian negotiations, while the dragging in of'the Adriatic in the references to the Mediterranean, is interpreted as a hint to Herr Hitler . .that II Duce will look askance at an adventure in Yugoslaviaydesigned to give Germany an Adriatic port. .... READY TO NEGOTIATE. FRANCE MUST MAKE ADVANCE. ITALIAN VIEW OF WORDS. (Independent Cable Service). (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) ' ROME, March 26. Diplomatic* circles declare that 11 Duce merely developed the King’s recent statement. 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, blit lie managed to sandwich into fighting Words a peaceful statement of .Jiis, demands.