"WORKING FOR PEACE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 93, 21 April 1939, Page 8

"WORKING FOR PEACE"

So the dictators are working for tpeace and the world is doing them an injustice in thinking otherwise. That is what Signor Mussolini says in his latest broadcast. He was addressing members of the organising committee of a great international exhibition to be held in Rome in *1942, the buildings of which, he said, .will have the proportions of St. Peter's and the Colosseum. He talked of mobilisation —a civil mobilisation of workmen—anddrew anatural for the world to hear: "It we wished to light the fuse and .plan threats and aggressions, we would not dedicate ourselves to the gigantic task of organising this exhibition." Of course not. In 1939 it is quite permissible to foresee peace in 1942. "We want to get on with our work," he continued. "Our policy is peace and collaboration." In reply to President pßiOosevelt's-message^he declared that tit was absurd to place the axis pßowers in die dock—he did not say "on the spot"—and that Italy and Germany; were "working for peace." "I reaffirm," he went on, "that Italy and Germany have given many |;proofs that their policy is inspired {by peaceful collaboration.'' TheiLj tfollowed some florid references to?. *c3lsseminasoa^gof paxxm;" '^prophets!; of catastxopfeel r pcofpssional fatallists," and "Mtesliatiic messages,*] The*Duces&eemsiiashave*assumed tbfe^ toga <>f'CSpero*asnvell as the mantfiie;1 lof Caesar.

Once more, what is one to m^&e of it all? People are not natur&tly sceptical; they are willing to betyi£ve [■a lot, hutiihere are limits to crfe/duIlity, ; the i( -dictators and|tjheir 3&eems*to3&§gjt^^ (the^restsiof^ife^oiSi'iunßersta/^s by ; the^phrase. Ita%f "works for/ peace" an Abyssinia and Albania; Germany in Austria, Gzecho-Slovak^/ai: both, in Spain. Japouri is no doubt endeavouring to 'Afarork for ! f peace" WCKina. Sigxior/lMussolini, |wh.o irr>'Ms of aWew Roman.' iEinplr^mustf^v©lstudied7the'history< fof Aticient Rtane, wxl|/ no doubt Spiead 'ffaatv^^Ekmaas^Sradced for Ipeaccf One of tk&jti own historlians, Tacitos,,sunimed/j'their methods fin a meati sentence, whwh has become immortal: SolitudMem faciunt pacem appellant— "plkey make a •solitude and call U/ peace." This is not the peacr* ;that President Roosevelt offered An his message to the dictators, asking for a pledge not to attack 'tfsrtain nations in •return for rec^jrocal guarantees. WHat does SigiWjFr Mussolini say to that? ieA tew gears' reciprocal .guarantee is zflysuxd, as is also the {geographical wyxamvd' constructed by indivJMuals with a rudimentary knowledge of' European affairs." '•Does this m^an that the dictators— for the Dii&e has been consulting with the F^Whrer over the telephone —decline Mq, observe either ten years' peace or tUrie status quo in Europe? Who can say? They speak a different language.,.