AMAZINGLY DEFIANT SPEECH BY IL DUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 3000, 19 December 1935, Page 7

AMAZINGLY DEFIANT SPEECH BY IL DUCE.

BENT ON CONQUEST. "Our Destiny Is Staked In East Africa." "WAR OF CIVILISATION." United Press Association. —Copyright. (.Received 11.30 a.m.) ROME, December IS. Italy's defiance of sanctions and her determination to impose her will in East Africa, were announced by Signor Mussolini in the course of an uncompromising speech delivered at the new township of Pontina. II Duce said: "We will not send the flower of our people to barbarous lands until we are certain they will be protected by the Italian tricolour. Italy is capable of resisting a long siege and is confident in the power and justice of her rights in crooked Europe. "Our destiny is staked in East Africa. Wo have begun a war of civilisation and liberation; a war of the poor and disinherited whom hypocrisy and egoism oppose. We shall emerge victorious from tile decisive test. Right is on our side; wrong on the other." Even more significant is an unsigned article in the newspaper "Popola d'ltalia," almost certainly written by Signor Mussolini. It states: "The Fascist Grand Council may have something to 'say to old Europe this evening. Italy will never be subdued by imperialistic siege organised with the help of 50 States. "Old discordant, decadent Europe has neither the energy nor the authority nor the moral right to subdue the Italian people."