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MUSSOLINI
WILL TOLERATE
NO INTERFERENCE
Aggressive Speech On
Abyssinian Dispute
ARMY OF 800,000
"We Intend To Have Our
Backs Secure In Africa"
UNDERSECRETARY
HITS AT BRITAIN
Special Cable To "The Advertiser"
ROME, May 14.
"Neither Britain nor France has
taken diplomatic steps to discover
Italy's attitude towards Abyssinia,
which is well documented, and they
are not likely to take such steps." de
clared Mussolini in the Senate today.
"Intervention is an ugly word; more
over, the reality of the case does not
justify it, especially in view of the good
relations existing between Britain.
France and Italy."
Mussolini, continuing, said:—"l am
most grateful to those apparently pre
occupied in an oyer-brotherlv manner
regarding our military efficiency, which
they apparently consider might be
weakened by a conflict in East Africa.
We can reply to this disinterested ad
vice, according to which our presence
in Europe is considered indispensable,
by saying only that we agree; but it
is because of our wish to be at ease
in Europe that we intend to have our
backs secure in Africa."
There was prolonged applause when
Mussolini emphasised the point that
workers who had gone to the colonies
outnumbered the soldiers. "But I de
clare solemnly and explicitly," he
added, "that I shall send all the sol
diers I consider necessary. Nobody can
allocate to himself the position of ar
biter regarding the character and
volume of our precautionary measures.
Such interference would not be tole
rated. I wish to be reproached in fu
ture with excess rather than with de
fault where the security of our colo
nies and our soldiers" lives are at
stake. I consider a total of 800,000 to
900.000 soldiers sufficient to guaran
tee security, especially as they are per
fectly disciplined, are -of superb mo
rale, and are equipped ?with modern
arms made in the war factories, which
have been working at full speed for
a number of months."
Mussolini also told the Senate that
the remainder of the 1912 class would
be called up in reserve with the 1911,
1913. and 1914 classes, making about
800.000 troops. "Supported by this
complement," he said, "the land, sea
and air forces shall continue in colla
boration with the Powers to secure the
balance without which Europe and the
world would go adrift. Military pre
parations threaten nobody; they en
sure only peace."
Mussolini's speech was concluded
amid a roar of applause punctuated
oy shouts of "H Duce."
"Abyssinia's Misdeeds"
Mussolini's speech followed a state
ment by the Under-Secretary for the
Colonies (Signor Lessona), who de
clared that European Powers nad as
sumed great responsibility in recent
years in alijwing Abyssinia to oubju
gate non-Abyssinians. Britain could
if she wished publish details of a long
series of Woody incidents, including
rape and slave raiding by Abyssinians
in Kenya, the Sudan and Somaliland
Similar danger existed in Eritrea and*
Italian Somaliland.
"Britain is always ready to draw at
tention to Abyssinia's misdeeds when it
suits her," Signor Lessona said "Abys
sinia s attitude shows that the Em
perors declarations are worthless and
that Abyssinia is prepared to violate
any pledge or treaty."
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