“We Leave, Without Regret, The Tottering Temple"

Northern Advocate, 13 December 1937, Page 5

“We Leave, Without Regret, The Tottering Temple"

—Signor Mussolini

(Received 10 a.m.)

ROME, December 12. gIGNOR MUSSOLINI’S MUCH-HERALBED STATEMENT, IN SPITE OF MANY CONJECTURES, PROVES TO BE ONLY AN EXPLANATION OF ITALY’S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS, WHICH SIGNOR STARACE, SECRETARY OF THE FASCIST PARTY, FIRST ANNOUNCED.

The stage had been set with Fascist thoroughness for the notable event. In spite of pelting rain, thousands of parents and widows, bereaved in the Great War and the Abyssintan and Spanish campaigns, thronged the steps of the flood-lit Victor Emmanuel Monument.

Giant blue and white searchlights lit up the entire length of the Empire Way, on which five battalions of steel-helmeted Black Shirts, who are shortly going to East Africa, were massed, flanked by battalions of Young Fascists and university students, who filled the square before-the Palazza Venotia.

Thousands of civilians under umbrellas passed the time singing Fascist songs. Signor Starace > appeared on the balcony at 10 p.m., and shouted: “Blade Shirts. It is a: solemn moment. The Grand Council is deliberating.”

Meeting- Lasts Three Minutes,

The meeting lasted for three minutes, after which Signor Starace announced that Italy was leaving the League, but the announcement was not heard, as Signor Starace disturbed the wires with his foot when approaching the microphone. Signor Mussolini immediately strode from the window and was received with tumultuous shouts of “Ducc, Duce.” All the sirens in Rome sounded a salute. Signor Mussolini held up his hand for silence completely ignoring the rain. His first words were not heard, as the amplifier was not functioning, and his voice came as a sei’ies of croaks. The wireless broadcast to Europe was also interfered with by the mishap, but engineers speedily restored matters.

Historic Occasion

Signor Mussolini said: “The historic decision which the Grand Council acclaim and you enthusiastically receive, could no longer be delayed.

“We have for many years offered the world a spectacle of unexampled patience. We have not forgotten, and shall not forget, the shameful attempt at strangulation of the Italian people perpetrated at Geneva,

“The League has not made the reparation which was due. The good intentions of certain governments were drowned immediately they contacted the fatal surroundings of Geneva’s Sanhedrin, which was manipulated by dark and bidden forces, the enemies of Italy and our revolution.

Leave Without Regret

“Consequently," added Signor Mussolini, “our presence at the door of Geneva is no longer tolerable. It has wounded our doctrine, our guile, our temperament. As soldiers wo had to choose. Were wc to stay in? (Shouts of ‘No’). Were wc to get out? (Shouts of ‘Yes’).

“That is why we shout: ‘lt is enough,’ and leave without regret, the tottering temple in which men do not work toward peace, hut prepare for war. It is grotesque to believe that pressure was exerted on us to decide. Our comrades of the Bcrlin-Tokio axis have shown absolute discretion.”

Signor Mussolini added: “Italy's withdrawal from the League is an event of great historical importance, which has drawn the attention of the world. The consequences cannot be foreseen, but wo will not abandon the fundamental policy of aiming at collaboration for peace at which we have furnished a luminous example in the post few days by consecrating peace in the Adriatic. Threatening Voices. “The threatening voices which have been raised from time to time perhaps will he raised again from the flocks of the great Democracies. They leave us perfectly indifferent. They can do nothing against a people like the Italians, who are capable of any sacrifice.

“We have arms of the sky, land and sea, numerous and tempered by two victorious wars. Above all. we have the heroic spirit of our revolution, which no human force in the world will ever be able to bend.” The cheering lasted for five minutes and the crowd dispersed singing army songs. The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, telegraphed to Geneva: “Italy leaves the League as from December 11.”