MUSSOLINI REPLIES FOR ITALY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 37, 12 February 1926, Page 9

MUSSOLINI REPLIES FOR ITALY

THE TRICOLOUR AND TYROL

FRONTIER

GERMAN GUARDIANSHIP OF ALL

GERMANS.

(United Press Association—Copyright.) (Reutcr's Telegram.) (Received 12th February, 10 a.m.) ROME, 11th February. The verbal duel between Signor Mussolini and Dr. Strescmann was continued, when, in a speech before a crowded and applauding Senate, the Italian Premier replied to Dr. Stresemann's long, rambling utterance.' Signor Mussolini said that his first speech -was not improvised, bnt had been patiently meditated during two months of an ignoble anti-Italian agitation.

He declared his opinion that few speeches had had a more powerful and swifter effect on the Italian soul and European opinion than his, a fact which showed how necessary it was. in order to clear up a situation which was gradually becoming worse, and <might have resulted in events of exceptional gravity. • ' ■ ■

The Premier confirmed the senti: mehts uttered in his previous speech, including the passage wherein he said that Fascist Italy could, if necessary, carry the Italian Tricolour beyond the frontier; Dr. Stresemann could interpret that as he wished, said Signor Mussolini, but the Italians would interpret it as signifying that Italy would never suffer the violation of treaties guaranteeing her frontiers.

Signor Mussolini denied that Dr. Stresemann had disowned the antiItalian Press campaign in Gerjnany. He had come to the conclusion that Germany was trying to assume, both inside and'outside the League of Nations, a spiritual guardianship of all Germans all over the world. He would reply explicitly that Italy would never accept any discussion of the matter in any Assembly or Council, and consequently any vote of the Tyrolese Diet was quite useless. ■ 'At the close of the speech there were unprecedented scenes. The whole House, which is usually quite undemonstrative, rose and thrice .gave the Premier an ovation.