The Role of Italy On Sunday Signor Mussolini made his
contribution ti, the international discussion in a speech at Trieste, urging a plebiscite for all the national minorities in Czechoslovakia. Little comment need be made on the indecency of thi. performance. Signor Mussolini rules over a German-speaking minority in the Southern Tyrol which is probably the worst- treated minority in Europe, as the minority in Sudeten- deutschland is the best. He has not the smallest intention of allowing it any form of self-determination, and Herr Hitler does not ask it, his impressive restraint being part of the price paid for the existence of the Rome-Berlin axis. It having, moreover, become clear by this time which way the tide was flowing, the Duce announced that Italy had decided where she would stand in case of war. He left it at that, but his mouthpiece Signor Gayda added the necessary particulars and set his country at Germany's side. The two countries are likely to pursue a profitable partnership at the expense of various of their neighbours till an inevitable conflict of interests divides them.
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