Evening star., 1923-02-07
WASHINGTON PAcTS
RATIFIED BY ITALY
Action Proof Country Is No
Sire Eater" Declares Pre-
mier, Before Deputies.
.ALOOFNESs CRITICIZED
Members of Body Score Policy
During Discussion of Peace
Outlook.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
By the Associated Press
ROME, February s.-The chamber
of deputies by ballot today gave
its formal approval to the treaties
negotiated at the Washington
armaments conference. The con
ventions were informally Endorsed
by the chamber yesterday.
ROME, February THE Italian
chamber of deputies had on its program
today the formal ratification OF the
Washington conventions to which IL
gave approval yesterday.
Premier Mussolni, in expressing
Italy's pleasure in becoming a party 10
the treaties, declared that the fascist
governments request for ratification was
an indication of the line il intends to
take in foreign politics.
Asserting that there were times
when contracts are broken by force o.
arms" the premier added that "conven-
tons like the Washington pacts pro
vide for breathing spaces.
.'At any rate" he continued, II de-
clare that Italy is very glad to join IN
these conventions, being thus able To
disprove the accusations that she is
fre-eating nation"
zoo Deputies at Opening.
The Italian parliament was recon
vened yesterday without incident,
and with but 200 deputies in attend
ance. although all the galleries were
filed in the expectation of some ex~
citement.
In preliminary discussions on the
Washington treaties was marked by
some criticism of the United States
for her disinterestedness in European
affairs.
The articles in the Washington pacts
We're not specifically discussed and
orations narrowed down to two con
tentinns. one group favoring pre-
paredneSs and the other general re-
duction of armaments.
The fascista deputy. Gufnta, led the
adherents for preparedness. He al
iuded TO President Wilson's Journey
to Europe lin the name of democracy
after the election of President Hard
! ing which he termed a victory tot
conservatism and nationalism.
when ii comes to the question OF
America is not interested. but when
II is a question of English compet
tion, or the dollar exchange, she l.
interested"
Italy needs naval preparedness. he
asserted, for on the Adriatic she IS
! fanked by "a dangerous enemy in
I'VE viii prepare for peace in the
/ Roman way-by arming, the fas-
E, cista deputy concluned.
| General arms limitation was sup
/ ported in the speeches OF Two soclalist
/ deputies. Siguor Bovia. said dis
! armament was a great idea. one
which Italy should take the initiative
! in achieving. Signor Canopa urged
| THAT everything should be done I"
throw off the yokes of great armies
and navies. Europe was awaiting
! peace anxiously. He added:
| NO miracle could b greater than
! a settlement of differences between
| nations by peace. and one way 10 Go
! il is by disarmament"
| Admiral Count Thaon di Derel,
minister of marine. pointed out that
! Italy did not produce sufficiently TO
| feed her people or to work her IN
/ dustries in peace time, much less In
war time: indeed, he said. Italy was
! obliged to import four-ffthS Of her
food and raw materials and therefore
lin asking at Washington naval
! equality with France she was de
! uauding the minimum to safeguard
/ her own life
premier MussoIini. amid profound
attention, from the deputies, declared
he did not wish to waste time in dis
cussiug whether the late war was the
last war. or only the last war but
the globe, he added, had proclaimed
that the Washington conference
would result in perpetual peace. but
the actual results had been quite dlf-
ferent.
The premier's speech was loudly ap-
lplauded No other deputies indicat-
ing a desire TO be heard, the chamber 7
then approved the conventions, which
will be definitely adopted on secret
ballot today. The chamber then gave
its approval to the treaty of com
merce with China.
At the opening of parliament, Pre-
mier Mussolini read an announcement
of the engagement or PrinceSs O.
Ianda to Count Calvi di Bergolo
which was received with great ar
| nlauSe.