SIGNOR MUSSOLINI'S SPEECH
THE Spectator has deep sympathy and admiration for the Italian people. It was therefore with very deep regret that we read the speech of Signor Mussolini in the Italian Chamber on Saturday last about the criticisms of Italian policy in the German Press and about the speech of the Bavarian Premier, Herr Held. The inadequacy of the occasion for such a protest and the violence of its character call forth indignation, not only among the friends of Italy, but among all those who desire that the spirit of the Locarno Pact shall be maintained, and that the peace of the world shall not be disturbed.
Even granted that the German newspapers in general and the Bavarian Premier in particular gave an excuse for oratorical reprisals, there was none, either in form or substance, for a speech like that made by Signor Mussolini. His words indeed remind one of an English election story. A candidate declared that his opponent had broken every rule of honour, decency, and truth. He had heaped calumny upon calumny ; lie on lie. He had been guilty of treachery and fraud. "But," he added, "let him beware. He has tried us to the limits of endurance, and I warn him that if he goes a step further he will find that two can play at this game." That was the spirit of the Italian Prime Minister's protests against what we admit were the dangerous and foolish infelicities of the German Press. As to the provocations of Herr Held they, could and should have been dismissed with a smile as exaggerated, inept, and unworthy of the attention- of the Italian Government. Herr Held was trying to' assert himself and his Government in internatioVial affairs, and in pleading for Bavarian particularism • in diplomacy he expressed certain grievances against Italy. He did not, however; represent the Reich in any way.
What should we think here if some foreign Government took us to task in the spirit of Signor Mussolini because the Prime Minister of the Free State or of Northern Ireland made for his own purposes comments upon some foreign nation? Again, what would sensible people say here if Mr. Baldwin was ill-judged enough' to threaten the American Republic because the Governor of the.State of Texas, or Nebraska, Or Oregon—we apologise to the States in question for our illustration—said offensive and Untrue thinks about English policy and threatened us with Yen- geance ? Nor was it only highly indiscreet of the Italian Prime Minister to brow-beat Germany in general because a Bavarian politician in particular had said what he had no business to say ; Signor Mussolini put his protest in words Which no Power that has entered the League of Nations ought to dream of employing.
Could anything be more undignified than the counter- threat that if a boycott by German tourists "should become effective to-morrow with the tacit consent of the German authorities, we (Italy) shall reply with a boycott which will be twice as effective, and to any reprisals which may be taken we shall reply with reprisals thrice as severe " ?
Signor Mussolini ended his ill-timed and unhappy Speech in away which reminds one of" The Great Defiance'!
of the young Columbian in Martin Chuzzlewit :— "To the German nation we say : The Fascist people wishes to be a sincere friend who looks you straight in the eyes, a friend with clean hands, a friend who stands outside that " Kultur " which we have now done with. My speech must be regarded as the adoption of a political and diplomatic position. I hope that it will be heard by all those who ought to hear it. so that the Italian Government need not make a concrete reply as it would have to do if the German Government assumed responsibility for what has happened and for the six-column article which a provincial Fascist newspaper published the other day—I read it very carefully
• —under the heading "Fascist Italy will never lower her flag on the Brenner." I sent the editor my copy of the paper with the following alteration in the heading : "Fascist Italy can, if necesaAry, carry the Tricolour to the other side of the Brenner, but never take it away." ' "
What a `.` concrete reply" is exactly we do not know, but presumably something in the nature of what the diplomatists of the Victorian epoch used to call " material guarantees." If Italy is about to enter upon her Napoleonic epoch in sucha spirit as this, who among those who , love and admire her as we do can escape a sense of personal humiliation? We have no business with the internal affairs of Italy, nor have we any desire to raise any personal prejudice against Signor Mussolini. Indeed, we believe that he and, the Fascist party have done much to increase the prosperity.of Italy. If, however, speeches of this kind are to be made and a policy of the sort hinted at is to be pursued, Italy will become an impossible partner in the work which belongs to every, member of the League—the work of keeping the world's peace.
If Signor Mussolini and his colleagues would only reflect a little, they would surely see that it cannot be worth while for Italy to perturb the minds of men and, nations as this speech is likely to perturb them. It is no secret that Italy, with her large and growing population, is hoping to find lands oversea, where the surplus of her population may dwell and develop trade and commerce under their own flag. There is no one here, provided that this exten- sion can be achieved without injustice, who would not be pleased to see Italy carry out her policy. But, obviously, this difficult and delicate business is not going to be made easier by ill-judged threats of violence.
The evil repercussions of the speech will not be confined to England. Italy desires. to stand well, and most rightly so, with the United States, and all friends of Italy were pleased . to note the extraordinarily good impression which Signor Volpi and his commission made in Ainerica..The dignity and good sense of their diplomacy not only made a generous settlement of their Debt Problem possible, but inspired America with the feeling that the _Italians deserved general support and sympathy.
We should not be sincere if we did not point out that a speech like that of Signor_ Mussolini will do infinite harm to Italy, on the other side of the Atlantic. The Americans,: though this is not. fully understood in Europe, are intensely, anxious , that the peace of the world shall _be maintained. It is, indeed, because of tbeir, dread of turmoil and animosity. _that they have made so many difficulties about joining with the rest of the Powers in working the League of.Natio.ns. The mass of Americans have a feeling that Europe is whirlpool, of savagery, bloodshed, and intrigne,, and they passionately refuse to be engulfed in it. That is an evil omen for a _peaceful re-settlement of the world, and everything that can be done should be .done to give America an assurance that angry aggression is not the mood of Continental Europe. But how are we to do that in face ,of such an incident as _ . .
Signor Mussolini's speech ?
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