GERMAN DEMANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22119, 27 May 1935, Page 9

GERMAN DEMANDS

MUSSOLINI'S VIEWS " MUST BE CLARIFIED" TASK FOR DIPLOMACY THE PROBLEM OF AUSTRIA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 26, 7.5 p.m.) ROME, May 25 Signor Mussolini, in the course of his speech in the Chamber to-day, stated that Herr Hitler's 13 points could be neither accepted nor rejected en bloc. They must be clarified and examined, a task which diplomacy possibly would undertake in the next few weeks. The only problem compromising the relations between Italy and Germany was Austria. However, the fundamentally important recent conference in Venice indicated that the demands of Austria and Hungary would not prevent the success of the Danubian Conference to which Germany was being invited. Referring to Germany's reintroduction of conscription, Signor Mussolini said it was useless to indulge in recriminations regarding Germany's changed attitude after lier readiness to accept an armaments agreement on the lines of the Italian memorandum of January, 1934. " It is hard to believe in the possibility of a limitation of armaments or the prohibition of war," said Signor Mussolini, " but if a concrete offer is made we must not introduce difficulties." The speech was received with tumultuous applause and the singing of the Fascist Anthem. The Chamber decided that the importance of the Prime Minister's declaration warranted it being posted up in every town in Italy.