ITALY TO HOLD GREECE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23353, 12 June 1941, Page 5

ITALY TO HOLD GREECE

AGREEMENT MADE WITH GERMANY SIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S ANNOUNCEMENT (U.P.A.) ROME, June 10. “In accordance with an agreement with the German High Command, Italy will occupy the whole of Greece, which will re-enter the Italian sphere of influence in the Mediterranean,” said Signor Mussolini in a speech at a session of the Chamber of Fascist Guilds. “All the damage is being repaired where possible,” he continued. “Greece could not have carried on for six months against Italy without British help. It is a mathematical certainty that without the Balkan disturbance the Italians would have annihilated whatever remained of the Greek forces by April. “The resistance in Abyssinia will be protracted to the limit of human endurance, We will return there, although we cannot at present say when or how." Referring to foreign affairs II Duce said: “Turkey has had a chance of observing the tragic fate of everybody sympathising with the Allies. An actual declaration of war by the United States will not alter the existing conditions. America is at present in a state of undeclared war and American intervention would be tardy and would only lengthen the war and extend it to other continents. “Japan would not be indifferent to American aggression. The Axis would help Japan, in spite of tile distances involved. Spain knows her friends and she cannot afford to renounce this unique opportunity of linking up with the Axis. This is a battle between gold and blood. "I firmly believe that God has chosen blood. We shall win. The enemy is tenacious, but we are more tenacious.” Signor Mussolini ridiculed suggestions of an Italian-German union, saying: “We are two nations, but there is only one war, Herr Hitler’s recent speeches have recognised Italy's great sacrifices.” MOTIVES OF THE AXIS DEAL VIEW EXPRESSED IN LONDON (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 10. The most revealing portion of Signor Mussolini’s speech on the anniversary of the Italian entry into the war is his announcement that in agreement with Germany the whole of Greece, including Athens, will be occupied by Italy, “Greece thus re-en-tering the Italian sphere of influence in the Mediterranean.” It is obvious to informed opinion in London that the underlying motives of this deal between the Axis partners, whose recent long talk on the Brenner Pass foreshadowed some bargain of this nature, arc threefold:— (1) Herr Hitler must give something to Signor Mussolini in return for his unredeemed promises of annexations from France, which the Vichy negotiations now make impracticable; (2) Signor Mussolini’s aspirations in the Balkans are satisfied: (3) Herr Hitler hands over the task of policing Greece to his partner and thereby liberates German troops for duty in another sphere of war. THE MURDER OF MATTEOTTI Occurrence In Rome In _1924 COPY OF LETTER OP CONFESSION (Received June 11, 9 «p.m.) LONDON. Juno 10. The Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says a photostat copy of a letter from Amerigo Dumini to Marshal De Bono, in which Dumini confesses to the murder of Signor Giacomo Mattcdtti in 1924, and declares he received 190,000 lire from Signor Mussolini “to put me straight,” is published in the anti-Fascist newspaper “Corrlere dTtalia.” Dumini lived at Derna, and the letter, which is dated October 28, 1933, was found when the British captured the town last January. Dumini told the representative of the Associated Press that he waited for the entry of the British because he preferred capture to living under Fascist rule. Dumini was exiled to Libya in 1934 for anti-Fascist activities. The letter tells a terrible tale of persecution by the Italian police. Signor Matteotti. who was one of the leaders of the Reformist Socialists in the Italian Parliament, was walking to his home in Rome on the afternoon of June 10, 1924, when he was seized by five men and flung into a motor-car. It was alleged that he was stabbed and buried in a wood outside the city. Three Fascists suspected of having taken part in the crime were immediately arrested. One of them was Dumini. The inquiry lasted from June, 1924, to March, 1926, and more than 30 persons were charged with complicity in the affair. They included the Commendatore Cesare Rossi, a former head of the Press Bureau of the Prime Minister’s Department, Signor Marinelli, treasurer of the Fascist Party, and the Cavallerl Fllippelli, editor of the newspaper "Corriere Italiano.” These three were acquitted of having instigated the murder, on the ground that they did not take part in the outrage. They were also acquitted of abduction. Dumini and four others were re? manded on a charge of manslaughter. Earlier, Marshal De Bono had been accused of complicity but he was exoneraied. Of 30 persons eventually charged with manslaughter or complicity, five were committed for trial, and of these five Dumini and two others were found guilty of unintentional homicide. They were sentenced to penal servitude for five years 11 months and 20 days, but four years were remitted under an amnesty and one year and nine months had been served while awaiting trial. So the sentence was a nominal one, of two months and 20 days. Signor Matteotti was a man of large private means who had given all his activities to the cause of Socialism in Italy. He was secretary of the Socialist Reformist Party and was the most disliked and most powerful opponent the Fascisti had in Parliament. Two years before his final disappearance, Signor Matteotti was kidnapped, taken out into the country by Fascists and left there in a pitiable condition. IRAQ AND ITALY DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS SEVERED (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 10. It is confirmed in authoritative quarters in London that the Iraqi Government has broken off diplomatic relations with Italy. All Italians must leave Iraqi territory.