Dictators Want Peace, But Will Fight for Liberty, Says Il Duce

Northern Advocate, 15 May 1939, Page 5

Dictators Want Peace, But Will Fight for Liberty, Says Il Duce

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

ROME. May 14. QIGNOR MUSSOLINI, OPENING AN ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY EXHIBITION AT TURIN, SAID THAT MILLIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, IN CONFLICTING OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM, WERE ASKING: “WHITHER ARE WE GOING—TO PEACE OR WAR?” THIS WAS A GRAVE QUESTION, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR DECISIONS. “In order to sever a knot, it is not always necessary to use a sword,” said II Duce. “Nevertheless, it is necessary to cut certain knots in Europe, because harsh reality is sometimes preferable to a long period of difficult suspense. This is also Germany’s viewpoint. “Fascism’s doctrines and my will remain inflexible. We shall march with Germany on every question in Europe. Through our military alliance, the Axis has become an unbreakable union.”

Signor Mussolini prefaced his ' remarks by saying that an objective review of the situation showed there did not at present exist In Europe problems of such magnitude as to justify a war which would become universal. Italo-German Alliance, The Italo-German alliance would be signed in Berlin before the end of the month, and the result of it would be the confusion and humiliation of those who were continually attempting to spy bends or breaks in the Axis, said II Duce. He warned people against the continuation of “ridiculous illusions and superficial casuistry.” “We do not desire peace simply because of our internal situation, which of course is well known as catastrophic," he said, and the crowd cheered the irony. ■ “Our adversaries have vainly waited 17 years for’ a catastrophe, and they will have to wait a long time. Wc dc not desire peace because of fear of war, which is unknown to us.” (Boos and cheers.) Invasion of Italy Difficult. “Armchair strategists, studiously examining portions of our frontiers, mention easy passage through the Po Valley,” II Duce proceeded. “This would not be possible, when there exists a compact people of 45,000,000 on this side of the Alps. Piedmont’s military history has shown that it would not be healthy for anyone to walk into Italy.

Democracies Questioned “We must ask whether the great democracies share the sincere desire for peace that exists in the totalitarian States. I confine myself to saying that, judging from their acts, it is permissible to doubt it. Wars are won not only with gold. The only gold worthwhile is will and courage." Signor Mussolini said the map ' of three continents had been modified in recent times, but Italy, Germany and Japan had not abstracted one square metre nor a solitary individual from the sovereignty of the democracies. Outbreak of Selfishness “Therefore, how do they explain this curious outbreak of selfishness?” he asked. “Perhaps we do not know the methods by which they built up their own empires, nor the methods by which those empires have been maintained.

“Since the crumpling of the Versailles system, which constituted a pistol pointed against Italy and Germany, an effort is being made to substitute guarantees, more or less sought and more or less multi-lateral. That the democracies are not sincerely devoted to peace is shown incontestably, by the fact that they have already started what can be called a white' war or an economic war. Formidable Bloc “The formidable bloc of 150,000,000 people, rapidly increasing from the Baltic to the Indian Ocean, will not let itself be overpowered. The latest system of guarantees will collapse like that of Versailles. We are arming in order to be able to safeguard our peace and throw back aggression. “Whatever happens, I declare to you with absolute certainty that all our goals will be reached,” II Duce concluded.