“HOSTILE FOR YEARS"

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 August 1935, Page 5

“HOSTILE FOR YEARS"

Mussolini Frankly Discusses His Views on Abyssinia

EFFORTS TO JUSTIFY ACTIONS LANCE POINTED AT ITALY’S BACK

(Unitod Fnm Amocimwo—By Maottlo ZatafopK Copyriahtl. Received 2.0 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Aug. 23. A BRITISH United Press copyright message says: “A solution of the Ethiopian problem must be radical and conelusive. Ethiopia cannot continue, as a modern, weapon, not an ancient lance, is pointed at Italy’s back.” _ In this way Signor Mussolini concluded an interview in which he frankly discussed Italy’s attitude. He declared that Abyssinia had been hostile to Italy for forty years, consistently disregarding the 1928 treaty of friendship, attacking Italian soldiers, killing officials and civilians and preparing an army to attack the Italian forces. Therefore, Italy had decided to secure respect for her rights. Such action in Abyssinia could not influence the development of European collaboration to which Italy was still disposed entirely to (idhcrc Signor Mussolini continued that the Stresa agreements and European equilibrium could be endangered only by creating a legend of perils to Europe resulting from the colonial campaign. The Italian operations did not differ from those of other colonial powers in Africa and Asia. A nation on the march such as Italy could not be stopped by a static conception of the life of the peoples. Such a conception greatly endangered world peace. The League, if it desired to live, must realise this danger, which anyhow Covenant Articles 19 and 22 envisaged. Asked whether Italy, in the event of war, would search neutral vessels, Signor Mussolini promised that he -would adhere strictly to international law. He added that Britain, in the 1891 and 1894 protocols, recognised that almost all Ethiopia was included in the sphere of Italian influence. The Three-Pow.er Treaty of 1908 had confirmed this. Britain’s interests in the Nile waters were specially recognised in accord between Signor Mussolini and Sir Ronald Graham, the British Ambassador at Italy in 1925. Therefore, Britain’s local interests were completely safeguarded. Western Nations might despair of the future if their present disturbing de-population should accompany a renunciation of the right to send a civilising mission to people ignorant of civilisation.