ITALY'S PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22198, 27 August 1935, Page 9

ITALY'S PLANS

i ' |i MIND, MADE UP 11 NO DRAWING BACK Kf . § ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN MUSSOLINI'S WARNING CASE PLAINLY STATED Ily Teleßrnph—Press Associntion—Copyright ' LONDON, Auk. 25 Interviewed at the Palazzo . Venezia by ISIr. G. Ward Price, the •Daily Mail's correspondent, Signor Mussolini said "If Geneva votes sanctions against Italy she will immediately leave the League of Nations. Whoever applies sanctions against Italy will meet her armed hostility. If the League is so reckless as to expand a colonial campaign into a European war at the cost of tens of millions of lives, -the guilt will rest (in the League. J; " Nevertheless, I nm sending a delegation to.the meeting of the League CI Council on September 4 in order to place Italy's case before the world, supported by 'documents and photographs. " I shall challenge the League to treat Italy on tho same footing as Abyssinia after it has considered the evidence. European nations which desire peace should imitate the United States and leave us to? fulfil our mission. " Pacifists are the worst foes of peace because they want to spread a conflict throughout the world which has the character of a colonial expedition to create order where order has never / existed. We shall do nothing to set Europe by the ears, but others must have the same sense of responsibility. Always Stood by British Empire " Italy has given too many proofs of lier desire to co-operate for her to be sccused of setting a match to a train of powder. She' has always stood by the British Empire, not only in the Great War, but at other times when the world iras aligned against her. My attitude will not change unless Abyssinia gives in. " There are three possible degrees of sanctions, namely, moral, economic and military. Moral'sanction might take the form of a vote of censure, whereupon Italy would leave the League and main:k. tain her course. But if sanctions included a blockade of Italian ports and the closing of the Suez Canal, Italy would resist with all her force by land, eea and air. * " Italy would regard the closing of the canal as a breach of the Versailles Treaty in which the canal statute prohibiting a blockade is incorporated. Agreement With France Quoted " However, the application of sanctions necessitates a unanimous vote not only in the Council, but in the Assembly," continued Signor Mussolini. " This would require France's support. * The Franco-Italian agreement of Janu- ' ary 7 settled all outstanding disputes with France —Tunis and elsewhere —in exchange for the, French pledge to leave my hands free in East Africa. "It will take the Italian people 50 years to colonise and civilise Abyssinia. - In this they will be associates, not antagonists, of the British Empire, which ailready is associated with our special lights hy treaties." Signor Mussolini asserted that some of Abyssinia's arms had originated from Italy. They included Mauser rifles, machine-guns and a million rounds of Jimm mition, which he gave Abyssinia in 1928, thus disproving any hostile intentions toward her. Italy's Need of More Territory • Italy had 44,000,000 people living in territory the national utility of which was one-fifth that of France. Only a small part of Libya could be utilised. Abyssinia on the contrary, was thrice the size of Italy and contained great tracts suitable for settlement. Its penetration would open up vast new markets and develop unexploited riches. " The wounds of Adowa must be healed once for all," declared Signor Mussolini. " The financial condition of Italy does not arouse uneasiness. Our ])eople will face any further sacrifices entailed. " Can you wonder that Italy resents tho attempt to sacrifice her in order to restore the prestige of the League, 'frhich failed to prevent the Japanese occupation of JVlanchiikuo or the Gran Chaco war between two of its members? " We cannot draw back now. The !JOO,OOO Italian rifles in East Africa 'would go off by themselves. Italian administration can do for Abyssinia what "British administration has done for India." NEED FOR COLONIES GERMAN REITERATION

RIGHT TO' BE REMEMBERED (Received August 26, 5.25 p.m.) LONDON. Aug. 26 A message from Berlin states that the Allgemeine Zeitung says: "If » t ireallotment of African colonies is dis- . cussed Germany has the right to bo remembered, because, like Japan and .ttaly, she needs an extension of her _ sources of raw materials." The Morning Post's Berlin corresjpondent says Germany's proclamation of her heed for colonies is rapidly becoming a demand for colonies. The arguments are ; being reiterated because i, i-t is understood that Britain is pro- ' pared to discuss a redistribution of African possessions. Germany is not willing to permit her . insistence upon, expansion to be ignored when a revision of the colonies is disk'/ cus.sed. ' "JINGOES" REBUKED DAILY MAIL'S ATTITUDE LONDON, Aug. 25 The Daily Mail, in a leading article, Quotes Mr. Ward Price's interview with Signor Mussolini, and says Italy , means ■ business and will brook no interference in a campaign which does not concern ; Britain. The paper discounts further tall; of sanctions, which, apart from provoking war, would close Britain's best coal markets. It adds: "The jingoes' insime demands for strong action should m be firmly resisted,"