An Italian Demonstration The faith placed by totalitarian countries in
prearranged demonstrations posing as spontaneous is one of the features of such regimes that will never be intelligible to democracies. Count Ciano's much-heralded ,speech in the Fascist Chamber on Wednesday was duly interrupted at one point, as it had been solemnly announced that it would be, with cries of " Tunisia," " Corsica," " Nizzia," indicating the modest desires of the demonstrators for annexations at the expense of France. The claim to Tunis is familiar ; Corsica and Nice represent new ambitions. It is a measure of the length to which the degeneration of international decencies has been carried that a scene which thirty years ago would have been regarded as an outrage, calling either for a swift apology or the severance of relations, is now accepted as merely a normal manifestation of irresponsible ebullience. Count Ciano's speech consisted for the most part of a detailed account of the pre-Munich negotiations, in the course of which he stated that Italy had assured Germany that in the event of a coalition against Germany " on ideological lines " - Italy would march with her. The speech threw no very clear light on Italy's present policy, which is not surprising, since like Poland she is obviously trying to make the best of both worlds.
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