Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1940. MUSSOLINI’S SPEECH.

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 November 1940, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1940. MUSSOLINI’S SPEECH.

’JP’HE cabled summary of Mussolini’s latest speech suggests that he was less blatant than usual, if making claims that would be difficult to substantiate. Britain’s war guilt and the certainty of an Axis peace are familiar -ingredients in Hitler-Mussolini utterances, and, to-day, must impress few outside Germany and Italy, and perhaps not many in fihose lands. Mussolini admitted he was responsible for Italian official communiques and vouched for their accuracy. It would not be fair to say in haste that he is a liar, but, at leisure, he could be charged with handling the truth somewhat carelessly.- ’ The Italian communiques may be less mendacious than are-the German, but that is the most than ean be said in their defence.

It was understandable that he should attempt to minimise the seriousness of the damage inflicted at Taranto on Italian warships, but the British Admiralty version is supported by convincing detail. Neutrals agree that British communiques may be accepted as truthful, if not always fully informative. Italian people will not share the Duce’s gratification that 1 / N

Italian planes Volunteered .to assist in the attacks on, Britain, seeing that these did not reach British shores, being destroyed before they got so far. The Italian ’planes sent on this mission are said by their British attackers to have been of an obsolete type, and wonder is still being expressed why they were sent on so suicidal a venture? Italian submarines have not been much more fortunate, and if Mussolini can find anything cheering in Anglo-Italian encounters, none should begrudge him tthis gratification. He announced that Italian mass production’ of aircraft -would soon out-distance that of the enemy, but even if that prediction were well-founded, he said nothing about how, essential oil-supplies Avould be obtained.

Mussolini slurred over the Italian reverses in Greece, and promised terrible vengeance. This threat must inspire the Greeks to oppose, -with even greater tenacity, further Italian invasion efforts. Jugoslavia, among others, is less submissive to Italian demands, and Spain is not coming to heel so completely as expected. The more that Italy -wops Russia, the greater -will be the breach with Spain. Count Ciano’s visit to Berlin is evidence that something lias gone wrong with Axis expectations. The Spanish air mission which recently visited Britain is reported to have been much impressed by what they saw. General Franco knows the truth about Taranto, the growth in strength of the Free French movement in Africa, and the British aerial and naval successes throughout the Mediterranean. The fact that Italy, despite many advantages, has failed to make any impression on the defences of Malta, must cause thoughtful Spaniards to ponder over the greater difficulties an attack on Gibraltar would present. Moreover, it is realised that an Axis victory -would terminate Spanish freedom of action, as Spain -would become a very junior partner in the new order. AngloU.S.A. friendship offers solid advantages to Spain, which needs peace and capital to restore national prosperity. The Spanish Foreign Minister (Senor Suner) is again-meeting von Ribbentrop, and Count Ciano, and the result of these interviews will be awaited with interest.