"and there are other reasons to believe in the sincerity of Hitler's pledges of peace," the Duce continued. "Germany is in the midst of vast internal reorganization. Its internal problems are too various and will take too long to solve for the Germans to have much time to spare 100, that the proposals of military reorganization contained fu the German demands and in the memorandum of my government mean that the German military machine would be preoccupied for a considerable period of time with its reorganization. It is well known that rot only ensures a formal element of security but also provides for col- 000 laboration among the four in a way that certainly is a further guarantee of Peace. There too is the Locarno Treaty. In it the Italian and the British governments have pledged their guarantee of the common frontier of France and Germany.
"Taly stands by the Locarno Treaty. What further guarantees could be given! It seems to me that we were to continue to multiply these promises, they would lose all value." And do not forget that the German government has offered to conclude ten-pacts of non-aggression with all its neighbours."
Mussolini paused, "No," he said re-Mectively, "I believe we will keep the peace if only we can prevent unlimited race in armaments. The time has now come when we must act swiftly and decisively to preven! such a race. If the discussion with Germany are now fruitless, and no agreement is reached, and Germany finally quits conferring and declares she has her hands free, it may then be too late ever to bring about convention that would limit arma. ments.
The Eleventh Hour "It is the eleventh hour.
We have choice but to make an agreement. We would prefer an agreement to disarm. But if we can't get that, we must have an agreement." Tt Is vital to the peace of the world and this may be our last chance to get it. We must take into consideration Hitte word.
Nothing can be done with suspicion. We must accept his word and have faith not only that it will be kept but that the granting of the present German demands will not be followed by demands for more during the time of the agreement.
"This is the only road to peace. I! is the road we must all take."
The argument had the note of convietion and in the plea for haste lay strong feeling. Between the lines tone might read unexpressed, that when Hitler me to power France had but two alternatives: to make war or make an agreement. And that France will not make war. And agreement, y that if France also does not make an
out limit, will again become Germany rearming with: strongest military power on the continent.
Thus the alleged "pro-German" policy of the head of the Italian Gov. ernment resolves itself in the last analysis into a realistic attempt to Timit German rearmament. But the realist alls it the eleventh hour.
Down in the Ulpia, the most popular cabaret entertainer in Rome sing low-voiced to the capital's folk of fashion. He sings the songs, of every country. A foreign guest asked him for the Horst Wessel Lied, na-Hlonal anthem of Nazi Germany. The singer said: "We have sent for it, but ithas not come."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.