Sir Thomas Wilford: personalities I have met. No. 2

Rights Information
Reference
33510
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Reference
33510
Media type
Audio
Series
D series, ca. 1935-1950s.
Categories
Biographical radio programs
Radio programs
Sound recordings
Duration
00:07:41
Broadcast Date
[1930s]
Credits
RNZ Collection
Wilford, Thomas Mason, 1870-1939, Speaker/Kaikōrero

In this programme, New Zealand politician and diplomat Sir Thomas Wilford gives a talk on his impressions of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

These are drawn from Wilford's personal encounters with Mussolini who he met and had a private audience with, in Rome

He notes Mussolini is only about 5'4" tall but heavily-built, but when he is filmed or photographed he is always shot to make him appear taller. He observes untruthful biographies are circulating, which were written by Mussolini himself, and are little more than propaganda.

His meeting with Il Duce was arranged by Count Grandi, the Italian ambassador in London and a friend of Wilford.