ITALY’S NEW GOALS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 99, 27 March 1939, Page 7

ITALY’S NEW GOALS

MEDITERRANEAN AND ADRIATIC SUEZ CANAL MENTIONED (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received March 27, 9.50 a.m. ROME, March 26. Addressing 100,000 Black Shirts, Signor Mussolini, in the Eorum, said: “Thousands of our comrades have fallen like heroes in Italy, Africa, and Spain. Their memory is ever present in our hearts. “Some, meanwhile, may have grown slack, but the men of the old battalions are ready to level their rifles even as in the old days. The Fascist revolution is not finished; on the contrary, in many respects it has just begun. “What we have done will remain for centuries, the Duce continued. “It pays to remember how often triumphant democratic and plutocratic liars announced to their flocks the imminent ruin of Fascist Italy because Italy had been bled in Africa, Spain, and was urgently in need of a loan, which naturally could not be other than British. What we have done is important; but what we have to do is yet more important. “We will do it because my will knows no obstacles. Wh are meeting a troubled moment in European history, but we will not let ourselves be prey to war psychosis, which is a mixture of hysteria and fear. Our course is set, and the principles clear. QUALIFICATIONS FOR PEACE. “'Despite the fact that the word ‘Peace; has been worn through use, and rings untrue like a spurious coin, and despite Italy’s belief that permanent peace would be a catastrophe for civilisation, Italy considers that a long peace is necessary for the development of European civilisation. But despite urgings, Italy will not take the initiative and preserve peace until her sacred rights are recognised and satisfied, the Duce declared. On the appearance of Signor Mussolini in the Forum to make his promised announcement on Italy s reaction to recent events in Europe, and her new goals, he was greeted with a roar of “Savoia! Nice!’’ by 100,000 Black Shirts. The Duce said: “Though I believe eternal peace would be a catastrophe for the world, a long peace is necessary for the reconstruction of Europe; but Italy will not take the intuitive to protect peace before her holy rights are acknowledged and satisfied. “Any attempt,” he continued, “to break the Rome-Berlm Axis would be puerile.” Cries of Hitler! “If a democratic coalition were created the totalitarian States would abandon tlieir defensive tactics and assume the offensive. What has happened in Central Europe is inevitable. “Italy wants the world to know that the Italian Note to France on December 17 set out the problems which existed between France and Italy. They are Tunisia, Djibouti and the Suez Canal. BROTHERHOOD NO LONGER. “One should no longer speak of a Franco-Italian brotherhood ” declared the Duce. “The relations between the States are based on strength. Power in the Mediterranean is vital to Italy economically, politically and militarily. This is also true of the Adriatic. Italy has to arm regardless of the cost. A report from Paris states that it is considered that Signor Mussolini’s speech neither aggravates nor relieves the situation.