Evening star., 1923-09-07

Eamong the American people regard
ing the Italian action. Will be
promptly dissipated. American public
opinion will recognize not only ltaly's
rights. but the perfect correctness OF
my action in defending them"
The people OF the United States
must realize. he added that the
country on whose territory this crime
was committed cannot but be con-
cally responsible, not only because
this is principle Of international law
universally accepted. but because
everybody knows OF former political
crimes that have occurred in Greece,
one of the worst of them staining the
present Greek government.
Besides. the action Of the charac-
teristic Greek bands that have
worked particularly on the Greco
Albanian frontier is well known. 1t
is also universally known that they
were notoriously encouraged by the
Greek government. Athens several
times has been warned of the dau-
ger coming from not checking, If not
helping, the action of these bands.
Rises to SPEAK of Issue.
Under these conditions the respon-
sibility of the Greek government is
much graver than that of any govern
ment on whose territory political
Rising from his chair, Premier Mus
solini continued forccfully:
For what can America reproach the
Italian government? Any other self
respecting government under similar
circumstances would have done. in
deed, has done, likewise, as is provid-
ed by the numerous examples in the
history of France England and Amer
iCa herself.
Indeed. the Italian government has
emphasized that the action of the
conference of ambassadors Cwhereby
the mission headed by Gen. Tellini
was intrusted with the delmitation
of the Greco-Albanian frontier) might
run parallel to Italy,s action.
Calls Claims Moderate.
The reparations asked from Greece
do not exceed the claims which are
usual in similar cases. so that in no
country of the whole world can they
be considered excessive.
When we decided upon the ,occupa-
ton Of Corfu we made our object very
clear. The Italian government pro-
claimed that the occupation was
danger OF war 1t rejected the idea
OF permanent occupation. wishing
to tranquillize the worlds public
opinion.
MANY examples exist in history of
such occupations and scholars of in
ing the Legitimacy of such measures.
Unfortunately. although desiring to
make an entirely pacific occupation.
we have to regret the death of
innocent victims. Interested persons
have hastened too quickly to take
advantage of these sad circumstances,
endeavoring to use them in order to
distract attention from the Greek
crime.
Puts Blame ON Greeks.
THE results of an inquiry on the
spot. the truth of which is aCknowl-
edged by local British officials. quic kl V
gave them the lie. The responsibility
of the Greek authorities is obvious,
as they neglected to remove the
refugees from Corfu's only military
building, at which a few shots were
fired by the Italian warships.
Having failed in this attempt to
distract public opinion from the prin-
cipal point of the controversy. they
next tried another means of throwing
the world off the scent. namely. an
appeal to the league of nations"
The whole Italian people without
party distinction, the premier proudly
asserted. has approved the govern
ment's action and "is with us to a
man because it understands that our
attitude is the only possible one"