Helsinki: A mob estimated from 12- to 14,000 enters the
capital at the end of what is being termed a “Peasant March” against
communism. They hold a demonstration
during which parliament suspends its session, and are greeted by the new Prime
Minister, Pehr Evind Svinhufvud.
Rome: Italy publishes its official response to
France’s idea for a “United States of Europe,” and the tone is not friendly,
though it doesn’t reject the idea outright.
Instead, it places conditions on Italy’s participation in a union, some
of which Benito Mussolini raised in an interview with a Paris newspaper July 3.
“Cancel all
remaining demarcations between the conquerors and the defeated [from the World
War] in favor of the establishment of conditions of absolute equality. The fascist government is convinced that any
project for a federal European union should be harmonized with the structure of
the League of Nations.” The response
further says Russia and Turkey should be included in the invitation to
union. “The fascist government considers
a federal union of Europe conceivable only as a union of all the states of
Europe. Otherwise the union might become
a system in which one big state would be grouped with several minor
states. Therefore not coordination but
secession would result, with Europe divided into contending groups of
states. We cannot divide modern
civilization. Material and moral
progress have fixed intercontinental solidarity. The League of Nations was founded on this
universal solidarity. The world of the
League has only begun, having before it vast, complex and difficult work to
accomplish. It must be protected against
any danger which would diminish its efficacy or weaken its authority and
prestige.” The desire to include Russia
and Turkey is motivated of course by Italy’s constant desire not to let France
dominate the continent. The statement
also makes a Europe-wide arms reduction a condition of Italy’s participation.
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