Mr. Attlee, who did not mince li words in condemning Italy's action, told the House that Italy w ready finding what was the might of Allied sea power.
There was no quarrel, Mr, Attlee said, between the Italians an 2 British and French peoples. Since they became a nation, we have never fought the Italians. On tne one. hand, when Italy, so long divided and to a great extent enslaved by we Germans, sought in the 19th century to become a united nation, it was British sympathy and neil tnat enabled her to attain her desire. rear Britain and France have always been prepared to consider any real grievances that Italy might teel, and right up to this declaration of war have sought in every way to prevent the war spreading to the Mediterranean, They have been patient under every kind of provoca-non and abuse."
Sordid Material Motives "Why then has Italy declared war?" continued Mr. Attlee, "I say for completely sordid material motives, because Mussolini thinks he sees a chance of securing some 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 a jackal, which fancies the possibility of getting some scraps from another beasts kill. He puts forward the argument of a petty sneak thief, who hopes to rifle the pockets of a murderer's victim.
"This is an ignoble role that Mussolini has chosen for the great Italian people, which has made such a splendid contribution to European civilization in the past.
"False to the finest traditions of the Roman Empire which laid the foundations of law and order in Europe, false to Christian faith, false to the heritage of culture and of the Renaissance, and betraying men who have struggled for freedom, Mazini, Garibaldi, Victor Emmanuel and Cavour, men who made Italy a free nation, the Italians are now to aid the German barbarians in their attack upon civilization.
"We shall give them blow for blow. Two dictators have united to destroy Democracy. Democracy will answer the" challenge. From across the Atlantic has come the answer of a great Democracy (cheers).
it was as though day had followed night when, only a few hours after the Dictator of Italy had made his dastardly announcement to cheering ranks of Black Shirts, the President of the United States delivered to the youth of his country a message worthy of a great free country.
"France, whose arms freed Italy from German domination, is now stabbed in the back by descendants of the men she freed.
Profound Mistake "Britain is to be attacked in the hope that from her destruction, Mussolini may get some pickings for his new Roman empire. Mussolini has made a profound mistake. The victims whose lands he hopes to share are not dead. The French people never greater than when in adversity (cheers), are fighting magnificently on sea, air and land, "Britain, in all her strength by sea, air and land, is standing firmly by her side. The Italians like the Germans will find that they have to meet resolute resistance. They will soon find—they are already finding—what is the might of Allied sea power. Already 14 ships have been seized, ten others are in our ports, and three, on the best German model have been scuttled (laughter).
"Imaginary "restraints, which our occupation of the east and west ends of the Mediterranean are supposed to impose on Italy in time of peace, have become realities in time of war.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.