The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-08-23

frankness Italy's position in East
Africa, her motives and aims and
justification for her course of
action.
His First Interview
It was the first detailed news
paper interview he has granted
since the Abyssinian situation be-
came acute.
Mussolini received me in the
huge salon which he uses for an
office in the historic Palazzo
venezia, just across the square
from the tomb Of Italy's Unknown
Soldier.
Wearing civilian clothes - a
cream -colored single breasted suit,
loosely woven silk shirt Of soft
beige, dark blue and white
striped tie and white shoes - he
met me halfway down the room
and led me to desk at the further
end.
Deeply bronzed, he is a picture
of perfect health and bounding
vitality. When I remarked on his
cheerful appearance in the face OF
such compelling problems. as the
peace of the world and Italian
Abyssinian relations, he put his
hands high, threw back his head
and said:
"In my spirit at this moment
lies my strength"
Then he added laughingly:
II have just been swimming
like q fish"
As the premier talked in excel
lent English, recalled our first
meeting seven years ago when he
had just began learning the Ian
guage. When I told him the object
of my visit to Rome was to obtain
first-hand information concerning
Italy's purposes and the reasons for
them, about which the world at
large and particularly America, is
puzzled and to a considerable de-
gree critical, Mussolini said:
40 Years of Hostility
For the past 40 years, Ethiopia
has been hostile towards Italy. In
order to avoid friction, we tried to
come to an understanding with her
and in 1928 we signed treaty of
friendship which she has since con-
sistently disregarded.
THE situation has become worse
and worse. She has attacked our
soldiers, killed our officials and CT
villains and has been preparing an
army to attack us.
I'VE have therefore decided to
take precautionary measures and
for this reason, have sent soldiers
to our colonies of Eritrea and Som
aliland.
II am not an enemy of any race
but I insist that italian rights be
respected by every race. That is
what we intend to do in Ethiopia"
Strcsa Front Is Safe
Does the policy now being pur-
sued by Italy in East Africa en-
danger the Stresa front (between
Italy, Britain and France) and the
present European equilibrium ?" l
asked.
II cannot believe" he replied.
that Italy's action in Ethiopia.
which partakes of a purely local
and colonial character, can infu-
ence-as is asserted in some quar-
ters-the development of the policy
or European collaboration, to
which it has given and is still dis
posed to give, entire adherence.
What could endanger the Stresa
front and present European equil-
ibrium would be the attitude of
those wishing to ignore the abso-
lutte necessity of Italy's safety and
expansion, and to Great artificiallv
a legend of perils to Europe thai |
would result from colonial cam |
paign.
Other Powers Did It
These operations of ours differ
in no way from the various milf
tary operations which other colon
ial powers have conducted in Asia
and Africa. 1t is necessary to elm |
mate the firemen who would seel, |
to spread the flames"
Here Mussolini opened a large
album lying on his desk. II was
full OF photographs of the deyas-
tation wrought by the British bonn
bardment of Alexandria In 1852
rnrnir1g the leaves. he said.
You have done much the sauna
thing in America. How did Won
push your frontier back7 You took