ITALY’S PRIDE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11653, 18 October 1923, Page 6

ITALY’S PRIDE

HURT BY TANGIER DECISION. MUSSOLINI’S AIMS. 9ubllflh*d in “The Time*." ROME, October 16. The announcement from London that the Tangier Conference ie limited to Britain, France, and Spain has been received with dismav here. Tire fact that the British Government is kr.oWn to favour Italian participation, but has now apparently yielded to pressure, oannot fail to increase the existing British unpopularity, and participation in the conference has become a question of national amour propre, which the Government is bent on upholding, far more even than obtaining concrete advantages. Signor Mussolini will certainly not acquiesce in any decision taken in the absence of Italy. The plain fact is that Italy is convinced that a new era for her has begun with Fascism, and that the new Italy is not necessarily bound by anything appertaining to the old. ALARMING UTTERANCES. Signor Mussolini’s attitude towards foreign nations was indicated in several declarations which aroused alarm at. the time, particularly in Jugo-Slavia Just prior to taking office he wrote a signed article in. the “Popolo d’ltalia” declaring that “it is not an Italian interest to contribute to the maintenance of the British Empire; Italy’s interest is to collaborate in demolishing it.” Later, in a speech at Naples he referred to the assistance given by the British troops ae being “absolutely devisary,” and proclaimed the dogma of “the Mediterranean for the Mediterranean peoples.”