Signor Mussolini has all the time emphasised the fact that this is not a conflict between him and the League of Nations, but that it is a conflict between him and Great Britain, and under these conditions I do not think it is reasonable to expect him to have such friendly feelings, whatever happens to this country, as to be a reliable ally in Case a Crisis comes.

In Case a Crisis should arise before the assessments and general considerations to which I have referred have been carried out, I hope that we shall be given an assurance that the Minister will consider taking some sort of emergency measures, perhaps of a temporary nature.