“UNIVERSAL WAR NOT WORTH WHILE”

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22518, 28 September 1938, Page 11

“UNIVERSAL WAR NOT WORTH WHILE”

, * ROME, September . 26. ■ i " Signor Mussolini said it was not | worth while to make a universal I war for Czechoslovakia. If the 1 Czechs were left to rely on their I own forces they would conclude it I was not worth while to resort to I bloodshed. I Deploring the attitude of Dr. I Benes, at which the crowd booed, he | said all who opposed Italy in any I way at Geneva would finish that ' f way. It was still to be hoped that | - the Czechs at the last moment would | let reason speak and avoid a con- |.. flict, the final outcome of which | could not be doubted. | - “Still, one must foresee a stage at f - which the character of the conflicts P would be such as to involve us i directly. Then we shall not hesitate,” ; he said. “Italy still hopes that the ! conflict can be localised but now I thinks this is dubious. It is useless ‘ for diplomats to weary themselves i trying to save the Versailles Treaty, \ the fate of which they are deciding ! this week. I “We are in favour of a new Europe which will conciliate all peoples, ir This week it should be possible to settle for a long time all European } difficulties, and make a general 1 agreement which will permit recon- i ciliation. Italy ardently hopes for 5 such an agreement.” \