ARMS LIMITATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 1 June 1937, Page 7

ARMS LIMITATION

MUSSOLINI’S DENIAL. “WILLING TO TAKE PART.” NO INVITATION MEANT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received June 1, .10.15 a.m. MILAN, May 31. Signor Mussolini, in an unsigned article in the Popolo d’ltalia, elucidates his interview with the American papers. He denied that he spoke of an invitation to President Roosevelt for a disarmament conference and declared that all he said was that Italy would willingly participate in such a conference.

Disarmament was impossible, he said, but the arms race must snd in war or social disaster if long continued. Therefore he desired to investigate the possibility of limiting future armament programmes both quantitatively and qualitatively. Italy favoured disarmament, though not because she lacked financial means to complete her four-year programme. Italy would continue arming because she had two advantages over' other countries, namely, the spirit of the people and a geographical position favouring strategy, both by sea and air.