(Published in Il Popolo d'Italia, May, 28 1937)
In response to the questions asked by Mr. Simms, the Duce said:
Mussolini: Europe and the world will have to find an effective means to put a halt to the arms race as soon as possible, otherwise it must be prepared to deal with a serious crisis of unprecedented gravity. Such a crisis could unfold in one of the following two ways: it could take on a political character and lead to war, or it could take on an economic character.
Sooner or later, the activity of rearmament will have to slow down; otherwise unemployment and related woes will drag the world into difficulties similar or even worse than those which we witnessed during the Great Depression.
The only alternative is to end this competition before it's too late.
I believe that if President Roosevelt wanted to take the initiative to convene a conference for the limitation of armaments in the near future, this gesture would surely be a great success.
Italy wants peace. It needs peace for a long time, in order to develop the resources it now has available.
I'm not talking about disarmament, but a limitation of armaments. Disarmament, at this time, is impossible. Nor am I even talking about a reduction in current armaments. The development of the situation has already reached a point where even this is out of the question.
But a limitation in the future is something that has some chance of success. And I do not mean in a vague or distant period, but in the near future.
Concerning Italy's alleged ambitions in Spain, the Balearic Islands and the western Mediterranean the Duce said:
Mussolini: These are simply untrue stories. Italy has no such ambitions.
Then he added:
Mussolini: However, Italy is definitely opposed to Bolshevism taking root in Spain or in the Mediterranean, since Bolshevism is always the biggest threat to Europe. For this reason Italy firmly believes that it will not only be in its own interest, but also in the interest of France, Great Britain, Europe, the United States and the whole world if General Franco wins.
Mussolini does not believe that it is necessary for all nations to adhere to a single great pact in order to assure peace in Europe. He believes that five nations could reach the goal, namely Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany and Poland.
