Evening star., 1926-06-05
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.
Ry Cable TO The Star.

| II! NaDie 10 me Stfr.
LONDON, June 5-There is no
| chance of disarmament in Europe SO
| long as one man lives-and that is
| MuSSolini. There is no prospect for
| the League of Nations and it's sup
porterS to establish peaceful arbi-
| tration between rival nationalities so
| long as one man SCOTS at it's visionary
| ideals-and that again is MuSsolini.
| There are published reports to.
| day, that Italy which means Mus
| solini. warned France, that after
her victory over the Riffs, in CO.
operation with the Spanish. there
must be no forgetfulness Of the Ital-
ian interest and claims in North
Africa Apart from published reports,
| hear many undercurrents of Italian
opinion and purpose. as it is express
ed and perhaps exaggerated, by Mus
solni's friends. In Rome this year
heard some strange talk which
made me anxious about future events
and In London it was repeated, not in
whispers or in low voices, but openly
Expand or SuffOcate.
Not long ago a young friend of
mine. an Italian nobleman and one
of Mussolinis favorites, was talking
TO me in public restaurant about
future Italy. There is no secret
about it," he said, and he raised his
voice so that the people about us
could hear. Our population is too
big for our frontiers; our Fascist
spirit too big for our present state.
We must get more room for our peo-
pie and our souls. Nothing can stop
us 1t is poor France. which | like
very much. that will have to give way
first to our desires and needs. We
want the Riviera which formerly be
lonSed to us. 1t is inevitable that we
shall take it by friendly pressure or
by force of arms. We want Tunisia,
which is inhabited largely by our
race. We must have it. Turkey also
will feel our weight. We are deer
mined to become the greatest power
on the Mediterranean. There again
France must retire before us. But
the Turks must yield some of their
possessions in Asia Minor. The
Greeks must hand over some of their
islands in return for our friendly
help elsewhere. We are out for en-
pire not because of national vanity or
love of conquest for it's own sake,
but because we must expand or Suf
focate
Now that the United States has
shut its gates against Italian immi-
grafton, our man power and our in
tense national energy. dynamic
under Mussolini's leadership, must
find an outlet, peacefully if possible,
or by violent explosion. which is
much more likely. ! speak as a
realist. I have no patience with this
league which deceives old women and
parlor socialists"
| give this conversation because it
represents. believe, the general
opinion of Italian Fascists and those
most closely in touch with Mussolini
The Italian leader himself does not
speak so openly with such definite
intentions, but in his recent public
speeches he used words which caused
considerable anxiety in diplomatic
circles. His words have a curious
sinister resemblance in oratory to the
German Kaiser before the World War.
On the Italian battleship Cavour
only a week or two ago, Mussolini
proclaimed Italys need of a place in
the sun. 1t is the exact phrase used
by the Kaiser when he too challenged
France in Morocco. with Italy
hemmed in says Mussolini. our
economic need and national spirit de-
mand expansion"
That again was the kaiser's Ian
guage in the days of his imperial
power. Germany is encircled." he
said, we need more elbow room"
In recent Wayside oratory, speaking
from a motor car to crowds of black
shirts in Italian cities. Mussolini made
constant references to the time near
at hand when Italian courage will be
tested; when Italian manhood will
show the world they know how to
die and how to suffer. Speaking in IA
transform he said. You must stand
as steady under fire as under rain"