“WORSE THAN HITLER”

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23248, 7 February 1941, Page 6

“WORSE THAN HITLER”

MUSSOLINI “INSANE” VIEWS OF MAN WHO MET DICTATORS [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, February 6. “Of the two odoriferous, awful dictators I think Hitler is the lesser,” said Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Abbot, C.8.E., F.R.G.S., M.1.C.E., who was Deputy-Director of Inspection in the United States for the Ministry of Munitions in 1917, speaking at a luncheon extended to him by the New Zealand Club to-day. LieutenantColonel Abbot has had long experience of diplomatic contact on the Continent, and has personally met both dictators.

“Why is Mussolini worse?” he asked. "Because he does not give a damn for Italy. All he thinks about is himself and his future. Hitler is wrapped up in the Reich, although he is Austrian. I think Mussolini is the most disgusting bit of work I know. I have lunched with him and dined with him—disgusting. “Mussolini did wonders for Italy in five years, and then he developed a megalomania. The man is insane. All the ideas of Mussolini to-day are to become an Augustus Caesar for the Romans of to-day, to hold Roman triumphs and to be considered a successor of the Caesars. He has built an enormous forum and he has established old Roman legions, imagining he can recreate them.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Abbot, who was chairman of the Paris branch of the British Legion, referred to his meeting with Hitler at a function in Berlin. “In the first place,” he said, “he has got a good hand grasp. He looked you in the eye, but he has got dull blue eyes. If you met him in the street he would look like some little worm. Hitler’s Magnetism "Hitler has got some sort of magnetism. but it is magnetism which does not affect us. He remarked to one of the party, Tf you give us 20 years of peace 'I will have all I need, to do what I want to in Germany.’ One of the party replied, T suppose when you have finished 20 years you will come and attack us?’

"He did not even smile. He had no sense of humour. None of these fellows has any sense of humour.” Referring to Italian leaders, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Abbot said that Marshal Graziani was a butcher. The Italians were always having trouble with the Senussl in the interior. Graziani exchanged for 40 Italian prisoners, exchanged for 40 Italian prisoners. The Senussi brought them into camp and then the Italians shot the 40 Arabs. “In another case a sheik came wanting to make peace with Graziani. Graziani said ‘Have you ever been up in an aeroplane?’ He said ‘No.’ Graziani took him up and tipped him out. This Graziani is a great gentleman.”