Italy's Case Stated by Mussolini

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 200, 26 August 1935, Page 7

Italy's Case Stated by Mussolini

RESPECT TOR HER RIGHTS “LEGEND OE PERILS TO EUROPE" LONDON, Aug. it. “The solution of the Ethiopian problem. must be radical and conclusive. Eithiopia cannot continue as a modern weapon nor as au ancient lance pointed /at Italy’s back," declared (Signor Mussolini in concluding a (British United Press Association copyright 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 the army to attack the Italian forces, and therefore Italy had decided to secure respect for her hights. Such action in Abyssinia could not influence the development of European collaboration, to which Italy was still disposed entirely to adhere. The Stresa agreements and European equilibrium could bo endangered, he continued, only by creating a legend of perils to Europe resulting from a colonial campaign. The Italian operations were not different 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 peoples. Such a conception greatly endangered world peace. The League, if it desired to live, must realism this daDgcr, which, moreover, Articles 19 and 22 of the Covenant envisaged.

Safeguarding of British Interests Asked whether Italy in the event of war would search neutral vessels, Signor Mussolini promised that she would adhere strictly to international taw. He added that Britain in the .1891 and 1594 Protocols recognised that almost all of Ethiopia was included in the sphere of Italian influence. The ThreePower Treaty of 1908 confirmed this. Britain’s interests in the Nile waters were specially recognised in the accord between Signor Mussolini and Sir Ronald Graham, British Ambassador to Italy, in 1925, and. therefore Britain's local interests would be completely safeguarded’.

Western nations might despair of the future if their present disturbing depopulation should be accomplished by renunciation of the right to send civilising missions to people ignorant of civilisation.

Plain Reply Demanded threat to league OBJECT OF ARTICLE 19 LONDON, Aug. 24. The Daily Herald in a leading article commenting on the interview with Signor Mussolini, considers that it demands a plain reply that war is not justified by an assertion, even if ii is true, that Abyssinia is a modern weapon pointed at Italy's back, because Abyssinih has agreed to submit any dispute to the League axld abide by its decisions. Signor Mussolini suggests that so tremendous a movement as Rome’s return to imperial' status is not governed by the Covenant. Such a theory smashes the League to smithereens and brings the world face to face with ruin. If Italy can make such a claim so can Germany. In League fiird.eji Signor . MussoligA’g

statement is regarded as the most forcible he has yet mado regarding Italy’s attitude towards the League, but it is pointed out that Article 19 was designed to ensure peaceful revision of treaties and international questions, whereas Italy is determined to resort to revision by force. Article 22 provides that backward races may Ife placed under the tutelago of more civilised nations holdiug a League mandate, but Signor Mussolini refused this when England and France suggested it at the recent Three-Power Conference in Paris