“HARSH REALITY”

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1939, Page 7

“HARSH REALITY”

PREFERABLE TO SUSPENSE

SPEECH BY MUSSOLINI

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

(Recd. May 15, 9 a.m.)

ROME, May 14

When Signor Mussolini opened the Economic Self-Sufficiency Exhibition, at Turin, he declared that millions of people world-wide were conflicting between optimism and pessimism, asking whither we were going, to peace or war? This was a grave question, especially for those who were responsible for the decisions.

' “In order to sever a knot it is not always necessary to use the sword.” he said. “Nevertheless, it is neces- ’ sary to cut certain knots in Europe, because harsh reality is sometimes preferable to a long period of difficult suspense. This is also Germany’s viewpoint of Fascism’s doctrines. My will remains inflexible. We shall march with Germany on every question in Europe. Through the military alliance, the axis has become an unbreakable union.” Signor Mussolini prefaced his remarks by saying that an objective review of the situation shows there at present do not exist in Europe problems of such a magnitude justifying war, which would become universal. The Italian and German alliance would be signed in Berlin before the end of this month, the result of which would .mean confusion and humiliation to those who were continually attempting to spy out bends and breaks in the axis. He warned them against a continuation of ridiculous illusions and superficial 'casuistry. “The polemists of the great democracies are invited to give a fair opinion on our- viewpoint. We do not desire peace simply because of our internal situation, which, of course, is catastrophic. (The crowd cheered the irony). Our adversaries have vainly waited for seventeen years for a catastrophe. They will have to wait a long time. . We do not desire peace because of cynical fear of war, which is unknown to us. (Boos and cheers). “Armchair strategists are studiously examining poritions of our frontiers, and mention an easy passage through the Po Valley. This would not be possible, when there exists a compact people of 45,000,000 on this side of the Alps. Piedmont’s military history has shown that it would not be healthy for anyone to walk into Italy.

DEMOCRACIES CRITICISED. “We must ask whether the great democracies share the sincere desire for peace existing in the totalitarian States. I confine myself to saying that, judging from their acts, it is permissible to doubt it. Wars are won not only with gold. The only gold worthwhile is will and courage.

“The map of the three Continents has been modified, in recent times, but Italy, Germany and Japan have not abstracted a square metre nor a solitary individual from the sovereignty of the democracies. Therefore, how do they explain this furious outburst of selfishness? Perhaps we do not know the methods whereby they built up their own empires, nor the methods whereby those empires have been maintained since the crumpling of the Versailles scheme, which constituted a pistol pointed against Italy and Germany. That the democracies are not sincerely devoted to peace is shown incontestably by the fact that they have already started what may be called a white war. or an economic war. A formidable bloc of 150,000,000 people, rapidly increasing from the Baltic to the Indian Ocean, will not let itself be overpowered. The latest system of guarantees will collapse like the Versailles Treaty. We are arming in order to be able to safeguard our peace and to throw back aggression. Whatever happens, I declare to you, with absolute certainty, that all our goals will be reached.”

OFFICIAL TEXT

(Recd. May 15. 10.45 a.m.). LONDON, May 14.

The official text of Signor Mussolini’s speech says that the Duce stated: “We will march with Germany, to give Europe that peace with justice which is the profound desire of all peoples.”

The News Agency deleted the words “on every question in Europe.”

“DOOR LEFT OPEN.”

LONDON, May 14

Diplomatic quarters consider that Signor Mussolini’s speech is pacific and moderate. His references to no questions on which there need be a fight is interpreted as leaving the door open. The general atmosphere has become by no means worse.