SPECIAL TREATMENT

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 118, 22 May 1925, Page 7

SPECIAL TREATMENT

ITALY'S .WAR DEBTS

LIMITED ABILITY TO £AY;

MUSSOLINI SEEKS LONG MORA* ■•'. TORIUM.. " "

.(DJHTID PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTRWH7,)(

(REUTERS TELEGRAM.)

(Received 22nd May, 10.30. a.m.)

EOME,'2I B t M.ay;

Signor Mussolini said.that. Italy's war debt is 100,000 million lire, of which] 50,000 millions is due to America. Contrary to a. Press report; ■ America,'lf ad not presented any official .demand.for the, opening of immediate negotiations for'the liquidation of the debt, but friendly, non-i official conversations had occurred: -Italyi would do her utmost to meet Uer debts as far as her economic.situation permit-, ted, but in view, of Italy's great sacrifices in the war; and the fact' that' he> wealth was ■ only" one-fifth that' of- Erautir, and incomparable with that of Britain, ■ Italy, was. entitled to something' morc-i-thaii most-favoured-nation treatment.-''"'lf' a moratorium was accorded to qther; debtor nations, he would ask for a still lgnger moratorium for Italy. It would be- manifestly unfair, to give a conquered riat'iou like Germany better treatment,'thaii,,gn9 of the Alließ. ■ ■••* •■•-"• ••