WARLIKE STYLE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1935, Page 5

WARLIKE STYLE

MUSSOLINI’S POLICY HIS MESSAGE TO ALL ITALY READY FOR EMERGENCIES FASCISTS’ ANNIVERSARY ECONOMIC SIEGE THREAT By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 7.30 p.m. Home, Oct - 26 - “Black Shirts of all Italy, the thirteenth anniversary of the march to Rome finds the Italians assembled round a regime spiritually mobilised since October 2 in a historically unique rally ready for all emergencies.” Thus Signor Mussolini gave a message to the Fascists in view of the commemoration, which will be marked by a national holiday, rejoicings, bonfires on the hilltops and the inauguration of public works. “Thirteen years of Fascism have not passed vainly,” the message adds. “Those preparing to commit the most shameful injustices at Italy’s expense will realise that the Italians are capable of heroisms equal to those of the soldiers who gloriously avenged Adowa and bore civilisation into Africa. We salute the fourteenth year of Fascism, our ardent faith and determination tempered by innumerable hard proofs. “All Italians worthy of the name will fight to organise themselves in the most strenuous defence against the threat of economic siege which history will denounce as an absurd crime destined to increase misery among the nations. They will distinguish friends from enemies and pass on the lesson to their sons and grandsons.” Addressing 500 peasants, to whom he distributed prizes of £l7 each, Signor Mussolini declared that they must be proud because it was the peasants who were the backbone of Italy. Moreover, it was the peasants who were fighting in Africa.

A decree issued to-day announced an extraordinary appropriation of £7,000,000, spread over three years, for new naval construction, including the modernisation of old vessels. The authorities have instituted severe control of food prices, which have risen considerably. The peace talks are apparently at a standstill, says a Rome message. When a journalist remarked to the Italian spokesman that pessimism existed at Paris and London the spokesman retorted, “In Rome also.” PROBLEM FOR M. LAVAL REPRIEVE FOR CABINET DECISION UPON FASCISM Rec. 8 p.m. Paris, Oct. 26. The Radical Socialists’ congress, comprising Left parties constituting the “Front Populaire,” considered a resolution adopted by the executive demanding that M. Laval call Parliament early enough to dissolve the Fascist leagues before discussing the Budget. If M. Laval refused the Socialists would be obliged to resign from the Cabinet. If he agreed there was a danger that the Right Ministers would resign. M. Herriot did not declare his attitude.

M. Herriot, addressing the Radical Socialist Party conference, after emphasising that co-operation between England and France was indispensable for the protection of what liberty still remained in the world, added: “When Britain declares she has no personal interests in the conflict between Italy and Abyssinia France must believe her. We must not doubt the word of a British Minister or a British gentleman. When a British Minister says ‘That is our ■ position,’ I declare emphatically ‘I believe you.’ I ask my countrymen to do the same. Britain has a horror of lying.”

The congress later reprieved M. Laval by a compromise resolution demanding that Parliament’s first act must be to discuss Bills enabling the dissolution of the Fascist leagues and to prevent semimilitary exercises. It also urged the suppression of the private sale of arms and the modernisation of parliamentary procedure, accompanied by a revision of M. Laval’s economy decrees. The congress re-elected M. Herriot president, which is regarded as another victory for M. Laval.