ITALIAN IMPERIALISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19803, 31 May 1926, Page 6

ITALIAN IMPERIALISM.

Among the leaders of the European Powers to-day Signor Mussolini is conspicuous for his persistent talk of his country’s aspirations. It may be that his countrymen like to be regaled with resounding phrases respecting the restoration of Italy’s dignity and greatness. Doubtless Signor Mussolini recognises that this chord of nationality is one which may be effectively emphasised from the viewpoint of the popularity of the Fascist regime, but his harpings on Imperialism become somewhat monotonous. His speeches always appear to bear the tag, “Foreign .Powers, please take notice.” In his address in the Senate at Rome, which is summarised in this morning’s cablegrams, he uses a phrase of objectionable memory and association—a phrase that any statesman of to-day might well desire to avoid—when he demands “a place in the sun for Italy.” It may be a baseless rumour that Signor Mussolini is secretly negotiating for Vatican support for the expansion of Italy on the lines of the Holy Roman Empire, and there may be nothing at all in the story that Italian officers are already wearing wrist watches upon which are miniature maps of an Imperial Italy which includes Nice and . Malta. But if Signor Mussolini’s ideals are misunderstood outside his own country he can lay much of the blame to his own incorrigible penchant for theatricalism, both in speech and action. He talks fluently of Italian Imperialism, of “this adorable Rome, become by our efforts a greater and an Imperial Rome, the soul of the immense Latin world,” and of peace almost in the same breath, “Our Fascist Italy,” he recently declared, ‘ nmst be vigilant and firm in her work of peace.” And yet Italy’s Dictator can hardly complain if he is not universally regarded as quite the staunchest friend of peace in Europe. His utterances on disarmament are somewhat naive. Disarmament, he says, must be total, otherwise there would bo a sorry comedy. That may be capable of interpretation as meaning that it is Signor Mussolini’s opinion that disarmament is a subject scarcely worth discussion at the present time, for it is not to be supposed that he really believes total disarmament to be possible or in keeping with Italy’s present aspirations. There may be an air of logic about his pronouncement. On the other hand, most great reforms are brought about gradually, and nobody need doubt that an attempt to achieve the abolition of all armaments at one sweep would be a hopeless failure —a greater comedy than Signor Mussolini has visualised as the outcome of the policy of gradual reduction which the Powers are pursuing to the best of their ability. “Young Italy must find a place in the sun,” affirms Signor Mussolini —quite in a peacful and benignant humour, of course—and he believes that she will be able to do this “gently” when the time comes. But if Italy does not find her “legitimate claihis” acceptable to the Powers to which Signor Mussolini addresses indirectly a final word, what then ? The implication is that then they will have to reckon with Signor Mussolini and Imperial Italy.