The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-08-23
Defends
Attitude OF Italy
CONTINUED from Page y

possession of 1t by force from the
Indians and Mexico.
1.-THE United States consisted or
iginally of 10 colonies on the east
ern seaboard. Now you span the
continent"
Italy Can Guard Herself
This seemed a good place to
change the subject so I asked II
Duce about Italy and the League
Of Nations.
What will Italy do IL the League
fails to arrive at q solution of the
present problem? Would Italy in
any eventuality withdraw from
Geneva?" I inquired.
Italy will pursue her aims -
with Geneva or without Geneva or
against Geneva" was the prompt
and vigorous reply. II cannot be-
lieve, however, that taking care Of
ones own security Is contrary to
the principals of the covenant"
How can a future world war
be avoided? What does the future
hold for the League Of Nations ?"
/ asked.
He paused for a moment and
then spoke with special earnest
ness:
Cannot Be Stopped
"A nation on the march, as the
Italian nation Is today, cannot be
stopped by the static conception Of
the life of peoples. It Is precisely
this static conception which con-
stitutes the greatest danger for
world peace. The league, II It
desires to live, must be conscious of
this danger, which anyhow Is envis-
aged in articles 10 and 22 OF the
covenant"
What Is your excellency's opin-
ion of the contention in some quar-
tiers that the covenant has modi-
fled the convention of 1888 which
assured free passage through the
Suez Canal in times of war as we'll
as peace?"
1.-THE covenant" he replied, us
part Of the Versailles Treaty,
which, under article 2S2, reconfirm-
ed the full force Of the convention
Of 1885"
Would Italy in event of war as
sumo the right to search neutral
vessels"
ITALY will in whatever eventual
ity adhere strictly to the provisions
OF international law, as she has
always DONE"
Criticiscs Great Britain
The conversation then turned to
England's position and asked the
Duce whether he believed Eng
lands attitude Is prompted alto
gether by altruistic motives. He re-
piled:
England in the protocols of
1881 and 1894 recognized that al
most the whole territory of Ethio-
pia is included in the sphere of
Italian influence. These protocols
are still In force, in as much as
they were confirmed bmy the tri-
partite accord of 1905 between It.
ally Britain and France. Britain's
interests in connection with the wa
tiers of the Nile are likewise spec
Tally recognized in the accord
reached in 1925 between Ambassa-
dor Graham and myself.
This accord was at the time
communicated to Geneva. Britain's
local interests in Ethiopia are
therefore completely safeguarded.
me lack of understanding in some
British quarters of Italy's legiti-
mate aspirations does not seem
therefore to agree with the claim
OF protecting British interests in
Declining Birth Rate
What measures should be taxi
EN- to arrest the apparently wan
Ing power of the White racer" was
my final question.
For years have been calling
the attention Of, world public opin-
ION to the danger of declining birth
rate among western peoples. All
the world knows how tenaciously
the Fascist government has been
waging its fight for the increase
and Improvement of the Italian
''If the present disturbing de-
population OF occidental nations
should be accompanied by renun-
ciation OF the right TO send civiliz-
missions to peoples who still are IN
ignorance of the benefits OF civil
mission was admir-