“GREAT PUCE IN WORLD”

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 22 July 1935, Page 5

“GREAT PUCE IN WORLD”

Mussolini’s Desire to Emulate English Empire Builders BLACKS v. WHITE AGGRESSION ABYSSINIAN DEMONSTRATION (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright). Received 1 p.m. to-day. PARIS. July 21. Interviewed by the “Eicho de Paris,” Signor Mussolini declared that Europe would have 23 more years of relative tranquility. “My only desire is to serve my country as did the great Englishmen who built up the Empire,” he said Europe is decadent and is not still worthy to fulfil, a colonising mission. Italy is sure to impose her will, after which she will have a great place in the world. The “Times” Addis Ababa correspondent says the Emperor did not attend the Abyssinian youths’ demonstration, but all sections of the community made unanimously patriotic speeches, demonstrating a religious unity in which all applauded the sentiment, “Our flag is our colour; we blacks must unite,” says a London cable. This is the first occasion reference has been made to black unity against white aggression. “Italy is seeking ia: pretext to initiate a campaign of vilification w T ith a view to eventual conquest,” declared the Emperor of Abyssinia, Haili Sellassie, in the course of a special statement at Addis Ababa 1 . “Tlius far Italy has found nothing; better than a drunken brawl between native employees of a commercial agency and the local police, which was misrepresented as a grave international ingident. “Recognising that her military preparations are unjustifiable morally and judicially, Italy seeks to justify her refusal to execute international engagements by denouncing us as savages and by resorting herself to the most savage methods of all. She is also seeking to create dissension between our races and religions, which have never been more united.

“We categorically announce that we will not accept a solution involving an Italian, any other protectorate or mandate. The issue is between a small nation, the attitude of which is pacific, but which is resolved to defend the territorial integrity and political independence which the members of the League of Nations have undertaken to safeguard, and. a great nation avowing a preference for glorious* war and ■cynically, urging the necessity for expansion.”

The Emperor protests against the arbitrary application of the arms embargo with the result that it helps the stronger nation, which is counter to all concepts of modern civilisation. He adds that he confidently awaits the League’s decisions.