FOR PLEBISCITE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1938, Page 9

FOR PLEBISCITE.

MUSSOLINI'S VIEW. Events Have Headlong Motion Of Avalanche. ITALY HAS DECIDED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 18. Speaking from a stand in front of the Palazzo Communale at Trieste after landing from a destroyer, Signor Mussolini referred to Mr. Chamberlain as a flying messenger of peace. He addressed a luige audience of 180,000 people massed in Unity Square and spoke for 20 minutes in a strong, clear voice. He was frequently cheered when he referred to his hopes for peace and his racial policy. There were "boos" when he mentioned Prague or Moscow.

He said: "When problems have reached a stage of tormented complications, the solution is most simple, logical and radical, namely, that which we Fascists call totalitarianism. It is necessary to act quickly in the face of the problems now agitating Europe.

"The solution has one simple name— plebiscites for nationalities that demand them. There must be plebiscites for nationalities formed to become part of that State which wants to be Great Czechoslovakia, but which to-day reveals its organic inconsistence.'

"Events at a certain moment may assume the headlong motion of an avalanche. Therefore it is necessary to act quickly if disorders and complications are to be avoided. Delay will not hasten a solution, but will determine a fatal shock to the hope that a pacific solution will be reached.

"If this is impossible I hope the eventual conflict will be limited or circumscribed. If this does not happen, if forces of a universal character are ranged for or against Prague, let it be known that Italy's position has already been chosen.

"History teaches that empires are won by arms and kept through prestige, which requires a clear and serene consciousness of race."

Signor Mussolini proceeded to deal with the racial problem, and said the world would be surprised at Italy's generosity to Jews who had shown merit in civil or military fields. "World Judaism," he added, "has been for 10 years an irreconcilable enemy of Fascism." II Dtiee denied that his racial policy was the result of a sudden decision, or had been copied from anyone. VITAL DECISIONS. British Cabinet's Hour After Hour Sitting. FRENCH MINISTERS ARRIVE. LONDON, September 18. Official circles in London were again completely silent yesterday while the momentous Cabinet meeting dragged on hour after hour, says the Australian Associated Press. Before the lunch adjournment callers at No. 10, Downing Street, included the American Ambassador, Mr. J. P. Kennedy; Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, Chief of the Air Staff; and Sir Alexander Cadogan, deputy Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Viscount Runciman, who attended during the first hour of the Cabinet sitting, had brought from Prague the main lines of a scheme for a settlement, the gist of a two hours' talk he had had with the Czech President, Dr. Benes, which was to the effect that resistance to force was inevitable. The Cabinet rose at 5.45 p.m. The outcome of the discussions has not been disclosed. A further meeting is to be held to-morrow. The French Prime Minister; M. Daladier, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Bonnet, arrived at Croydon by air at 9.2G this morning and 'were met by Mr. Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax, Foreigu Minister. The Paris Press is profoundly pleased by the announcement of the" FrancoBritish conference, which it is understood will principally consider the Sudeten Germans' demand through Herr Hitler for self-determination. It is felt that the week beginning tomorrow may well be more fateful than ; its predecessors.