MUSSOLINI’S SPEECH

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 November 1940, Page 7

MUSSOLINI’S SPEECH

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.}

(Recd. November 19, 9 a.m.) ROME, November 18

Mussolini, speaking from the balcony of the Venice Palace, told 20,000 people: “It must not be forgotten that Britain is exclusively responsible for the war, which could have been avoided if Britain, aided by France had not attempted to encircle Germany. The initiative came from London, followed a few hours later from Paris. The peace will be an Axis peace. Eng- ( land will not avoid her catastrophe.” ;

Mussolini declared that with the] new mass production of aircraft, Italy! will soon have parity, if not superior- | ity, ovei’ the other belligerents. {

Defending the accuracy of Italian' communiques, he said that he personally supervises the drafting of all war bulletins. Strong people like the Italians do not flinch from the truth. 1 He denied the British statement j that three battleships and two auxil-j iary cruisers were sunk at Taranto.! Only one ship was damaged, and this-j will soon be repaired. Churchill’s j method is to multiply everything by! six. !

He added “I asked and obtained permission from the Fuhrer to take an active part in the battle against Britain, with aeroplanes and submarines. Germany does not need these reinforcements.

“According to the papers seized in France, Greece had offered Britain the use of naval bases last May. We have all the material necessary to overcome the Greek resistance. The 372 Italian dead, 1081 wounded, the 650 missing on the Epirus front will be avenged. Mussolini concluded: “The bloc of 150,000,000 of resolute implacable men will bring victory.” He declared: “Greece is a tricky enemy. The Greeks hate Italy more than any other nation. Their hate is profound incurable.” Mussolini described the destruction of the French army as without prece- < dent in proportion, and unbelievable, in rapidity. Italy entered the war to I carry out the alliance and to break] the chains binding the seas. ALL-ROUND TRIUMPHS.

“The armed forces of Italy’s African Empire, which according to the forecast of the enemy, should have broken up, had instead taken the initiative. It was we who attacked in Libya. The swift occupation of Sidi Barrani must not be considered the conclusion, but merely a prologue to acts of valour. Italian soldiers on all fronts make the nation proud. The Italian Navy is protecting the lines .of'. communications in the Mediterranean and Adriatic in such an efficient manner that the enemy navy is unable to interrupt or hamper them. The Italian Air Force dominates the skies. Four times as many Italian planes are now coming from the Italian workshops as before the war.”

Mussolini paid a tribute to the dis- j cipline and strength of the Italian peo- j pie, who knew this decisive war must be fought to a conclusion, and end in, the annihilation of the modern Carth- j age. ! He described the Italian war bulle- •• tins as the perfect mirror of truth.’ Only one ship was seriously damaged at Taranto. Its’reconditioning would, take a long time. The other two could, and would, be swiftly restored to. the former efficiency. It was false that two other warships and two auxiliary ships were sunk, hit, or damaged. Mr. Churchill might have completed the picture by telling the Commons the fate suffered by British units torpe-j doed recently in the central Mediter-j ranean and Alexandria. Our Navy, Air Force, and? submarines, are repeatedly giving the British Navy in its, hideout at Alexandria, a taste of our arms.

Mussolini glowingly referred to Hitler as “the army commander who had been confirmed by victory in his geniouslike conception of strategy, which in some quarters may have even been regarded as too audacious or daring and also revolutionary, who awakened his people, and made them protagonists of a world revolution similar to Fascism.”

FASCIST. SLACKENING. ! Referring to France, Mussolini said: • It is already clear that the Axis does not desire a peace of revenge or ran- | cour, but it is also true that certain, claims and demands must be satisfied. Italy’s demands must be accepted without compromise, and without a temporary Solution. It will be pos-j sible only after complete clarifications • of the situation within the orbit of a new Europe, to begin a new chapter of i the troubled history of Italian and ' French relations. * Mussolini concluded with a special j reference to the Fascist Party, which,' he said, must intensify its activity | amongst the masses. There had been ' a certain slackening in activities since j the outbreak of war, due to many of the leaders going to the front. I “This is not now the case,’.’ he said. “There will not be a general mobilisation. We have a million men under

BRITAIN BLAMED FOR WAR

TARANTO DISASTER DENIED

HUGE AIR FORCE BUILDING

LONDON REJOINDER

AXIS AND SPAIN.

IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY, November 18

ANTONESCU’S ADMIRATION

( Recd. November 19, 1.35 p.m.)

LONDON, November 18

arms, but, in,case of necessity, we could call up eight million. The party must' free itself and the nation from any small, bourgeois ideas. It must maintain and accentuate the atmosphere of hard times, and move nearer the people than heretofore, to protect their moral health and material existence. A certain kind of pacifism of an intellectual and universal tint must be closely watched and fought. Nothing must exist outside the supreme - goal. That is why we are armed.”

(Recd. November. 19, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, November 18. The spokesman stated that Mussolini’s boast that Italy will soon surpass and will certainly equal the air power of other European countries, does not remotely resemble the truth.

The Spanish Foreign Minister, Senor Suner, is again visiting Germany, and arrived at Berchtesgaden, where before being received by Hitler, he was met by von Ribbentrop, who, it is suggested, was probably anxious to reassure Senor Suner regarding the recent exchanges with M. Molotov.

Count Ciano also arrived at Berchtesgaden, for consultations. Senor Suner’s journey halfway across Europe, was halted at Paris, to discuss with M. Laval problems affecting French Morocco. BERLIN, November 18.

Count Ciano arrived at Salzburg, and was met by von Ribbentrop, Nazi Party officials, and military officers.

Hitler is receiving Count Ciano and Senor Suner during the day. Presumably, both separate and joint talks are planned.

General Antonescu had scarcely returned to Bucharest from Rome, when 1 reports were circulated that he was ‘going to Berlin on November 22 for ' a conference with Hitler, who, to-day conferred with Senor Suner and : Count Ciano, and entertained them at ! a tea party. '• I General Antonescu telegraphed to ; Mussolini: “The Rumanian Chief of ' State sends the Duce the heartiest and i sincerest wishes and deep gratitude; and expresses boundless admiration for the manner in which a member of the Roman family of nations prepares the way not only for the life of its own great people, but for other nations.” QUAKES IN RUMANIA. ]■ ROME, November 18. ; Stefani reports two shocks in Rumania yesterday, and though slight, they caused many houses to collapse. The oil town of Focsani was .again the epicentre.