“PETTY SNEAK THIEF"

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 8

“PETTY SNEAK THIEF"

British Opinion Of

Mussolini

ALLIES' STERN RESOLUTION (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 11. In the .absence of the Prime Minister (Mr Winston Churchill) through pressure of work, Mr C. R. Attlee, deputy-leader of the House, made a statement in the House of Commons. Mr Attlee said that the decision of Italy to enter the war was a decision which hardly ever before in history had been taken so wantonly and with so little excuse. It would make no difference to the stern resolution of Britain to defeat all her enemies. “Rather it should increase our determination to strain every nerve to meet all the dangers and difficulties of this critical time in the sure knowledge that we fight not for ourselves alone, but also for the freedom of the human spirit,” he said. “There is no quarrel between the Italian and British and French peoples. Britain and France have always been prepared to consider any real grievances that Italy might feel and right up to this declaration of war have sought in every way to prevent the war from spreading to the Mediterranean. They have been patient under every kind of provocation and abuse. ARGUMENT t>F JACKAL “Why, then, has Italy now declared war? Because Mussolini thinks he sees a chance of securing spoils at the expense of the western democracies now that they are at grips with the brute forces of Germany. Mussolini uses the argument of the jackal that senses the possibility of getting some scraps from another beast’s kill, the argument of the petty sneak thief who hopes to rifle the pockets of a murderer’s victim. This is the ignoble role that Mussolini has chosen for the great Italian people, which have made such a splendid contribution to European civilization in the past. “The victims whose spoils the Duce hopes to share are not yet dead. Already 14 Italian ships have been seized, 10 others were taken in British ports and three have been scuttled. The imaginary restraints at the East and West ends of the Mediterranean which the Allies were supposed to impose on Italy in time of peace become realities in time of war. Italy and Germany will feel the blockade. The two dictators have united to destroy democracy. Democracy will answer that challenge. “From across the Atlantic has come the answer of a great democracy. It was as though day followed night when only a few hours after Mussolini made his dastardly announcement Mr Roosevelt sent to the youth of his country a message worthy of the great people of a free republic. Mr Roosevelt vitally inspired all the free peoples of Europe. His assurance that the material resources of this great nation will be placed at the Allies’ disposal makes it inevitable, that, however hard the road, the cause of civilization will in the end prevail.” SHAME OF ITALIANS “I believe that many Italians are filled with shame,” ' says Mr Attlee. “Italy, so long divided and to a great extent enslaved by the Germans, sought to become a united nation. It was British sympathy and French arms which enabled her to attain her desire. She has now stabbed France in the back.

Mussolini, he added, was profoundly mistaken if he hoped to get pickings for a new Roman Empire from Britain’s destruction. The French, who were never greater than in adversity, were fighting magnificently and Britain was standing firmly beside France. “The Italians, like the Germans, will find that they have got to meet resolute resistance. They are already finding what is the might of our sea power.” “We hope no ill-will towards the Italian people. We are sorry that they should be brought into slaughter because of one man’s overweening ambition and lust of blood, but we are prepared to meet the challenge. We shall give blow for blow.”

“This new attack causes us no dismay,” he said. “It makes no difference to oui' stem resolution to defeat all our enemies or to our confidence in our ability to withstand all attacks and to achieve victory.”

SUPPLY OF TANKS TO WAR OFFICE CONTROL BY CIVILIAN PRODUCERS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 12. The Minister of Supply (Mr Herbert Morrison) in the House of Commons said that the independent chairman and vice-chairman of the Tank Board have suggested that the Tank Department of the Ministry of Supply must be controlled by civilians now engaged in rapid commercial production methods. The army must state its needs unequivocally through a focal point. It is also suggested that this focal point in the War Office should be occupied by an officer of high rank with recent fighting experience with tanks. Mr Morrison added that he and the Secretary for War (Mr R. A. Eden) had agreed that these suggestions should be adopted and carried out expeditiously. MR HEPBURN FEARS INVASION ONTARIO, June 12. The Premier of Ontario (Mr Mitchell Hepburn) in a statement said that trained and armed Nazi and Fascist sympathizers in the United States were awaiting orders from abroad to invade and destroy Ontario. He added that he had no confidence in the Dominion Government’s help in the event of such an invasion and feared that by the time the Government acted the damage would have been done. AMERICANS ARRESTED IN CANADA MONTREAL, June 12. Afte'T'a chase of 15 miles, the police arrested three Americans, reported to be of European extraction, who were caught photographing the restricted waterfront of the St. Lawrence. GERMANS DISMISSED IN COLOMBIA BOGOTA (Colombia), June 13. The Nationalized Aviation Company is dismissing 80 German pilots, radio operators and mechanics employed at Scadta, who will be replaced by Colombians or North Americans. The Germans received 500,000 pesos indemnity.