Aprit 22.
While a certain amount of satisfaction has been expressed over the tone of Signor 'Mussolini's speech at Campodoglia, in which some sort of reply was made to' President Roosevelt's personal plea to the Dictators, it is that type of satisfaction which is thankful for small mercies. Il Duce rejected the ples and that was all, save that his speech was somewhat more moderate than some of his most recent utterances. Nothing more can he said about the satisfactory features, for} beyond that one there was nothing of note except a certain naivete which strikes. the reader oddly, Signor Mussolini claims that the Axis Powers are following a policy of peace, and collaboration, Tt would indeed! be a happy world if it" could accept these: words at their face value, but opposed to them are the actions of the Axis Powers during the past few years. With such accomplished facts ay the Austrian anschluss, the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia, and Memel on the part of Germany, and Spain, Ethiopia and Albania on that of Italy, the! world at large will find some dim culty: in' reconciling the statements of I Duce regard= ing the peaceful policies of the two dictator ships with the demonstrated facts. If the use of arms is to be taken as an example of the type of peace which the dictators favour, then the sooner they realize that this is just the sort of peace which the world cannot, land will not accept the better. Even supposing it Is possible to accept Signor Mussolini's word that he and his colleague are really desirous of peace, may it not very well be that that desire arises from the necessity of having time in which to digest what each of the two Axis Powers have already bitten off? If that view is accepted, then it may be correct to state that Mi Duce ud Der Fuehrer may at the present time be desirous of peace, and quietness while pre~ parations are being made for the fulftiment of further designs which must imperil the harmony of the world.
The reference to Rome's World Fair will deceive no one. Is it to be believed for one loment that such an event, minute compared ambitions of the' cud to the postponement of wir should elths them desire to embark upon hostilities "he question hax merely to be asked to re= ceive an answer. If indeed such a fair would usure the world's peace then it might assumed that all prospect of been postponed making 13 the very ea rin wh rouble can be expected. 'The real is been squarely put by President Roosevelt's plea for a ten years' pledge of peace. both Germany and ttaly are really' desirous peace there cin be no Yeal such a pledge should not be give rejection of the President's. suggestion or Mussolini in fact served notice upon the world there can be no question of peace until his, his colleague's aspirations are satisfied
mnueh ats the det ct just Britain, France and Russia to. further expansion by force at the expense of the smaller a nations. There is no particular point in Signor Mussolini's objection that it is absurd place the Axis son the bench of the accused. They have not in fact put there. that very position entirely by their ow! fictions, from which all the eloquence in World will not remove the stigma of agares-sion. Ithas not been the armies of the democracies which been invading, and capturing neighbour states, not moved beyond reumstances very justly complain if
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.