Evening star., 1923-09-09
ASSA|LS ITALIANS
/. FOR CORFU ATTACK
British Editor Says Action
More Drastic Than That
Which Caused War.
by A. q. GARDINER.
EnClnnd's Greatest Liberal Editor.

i BY Cable to The Star
Copyright, 1921
! LONDON, September S.-Between
! the political thunderbolt from Italy
and the earthquake in Japan even
such events as the trade union con-
gress, the publicat ton Of Mr.. Asquith's
war book and production of the new
Charlie Chaplin film have aroused
small attention from the public.
Public opinion is overwhelmingly
| hostile to Mussolinrs action. The
Harmsworth press. rs usual. applauds
violent action from anybody. but
| apart from this the press is unani-
nous in denunciation of the proceed
! ings compared with which Austria's
| ultimatum to Serbia seems temperate
and reasonable and the German in
! vasion of Belgium modest expert
ment in brigandage.
| Mussolini has taken his cue from
Premier Poincare in the Ruhr, but
| has acted crudely and blunderingly
where Poincare acted with extraor-
! dinary skill and subtlety. Through
| out, Poincare has sought to carry
public opinion of the world with him
I and has worn the velvet glove over
the mailed fist, while Mussolini has
| f1ourished the mailed fist in the face
of Europe and given it a blow that
| has shaken it to the foundation.
England Is Shocked.
| The shock to England is particular
great affection for Italy dating from
Garibaldian days, but Mussolini's
bomb has aroused indignation in all
responsible quarters. 1t is regarded
as deliberate attempt to torpedo
the league of nations and to initiate
a game of grab at the expense of lit
| tie nations.
Has Mussolini overshot the mark?
His object is undisguised He wants
to consolidate his position in Italy by
! dramatic coup, and the seizure of
Corfu makes the Adriatic an Italian
! lake. He calculated that in the pres
ent position of relations between
| England and France he could jump
the claim and present Europe with
fait accompii. He was encouraged in
this course iby the startling success
| of Turkey. which has recovered all
she lost in the war by playing off
! France against England. But while
France was willing to give patronage
/ to the Turk it is much less certain
! that she was disposed to back Italy.
No love is lost between those coun-
tries. Moreover. Jugoslavia Is in a
panic at the Italian move. and At the
.
the claws of Austria to fall into the
| claws of Italy. France is indisposed
j to sacrifice Jugoslavia, which she re-
CARDS as one of her outposts in Eu-
rope. to italy which she neither loves
! nor trusts
England Antagonized.
| 1t is possible, therefore. that Mus
solini will find that he has fallen be-
| tween two stools, and has antago-
nized friendly England without
placating an unfriendly France.
| Events at Geneva are being fol-
lowed with deep concern. Lord Rob-
| ert Cecil realizes that the existence
| of the league of nations is at stake
through the action of Mussolini, and
he is fighting gallant battle to save
and SHUTS were the chief authors
The attitude of France is not clear
| but the small nations are supporting
Cecil, who has now firmly established
himself as the chief hope of all the
pacific forces in Europe. If the
league goes down in this struggle it
will hardly survive the humiliation
If it wins, it's prestige Is established.
France holds the key. Her position
is equivocal: Poincare loves neither
| Italy nor the league. If he backs
| Mussolini 1t is defiance Of the league,
and he parts company with his allies.
If he supports the league he can
hardly refuse to submit 10 its author
| 1ty himself. Wnat Will ne do?
A very gloomy feeling pervaded
| the trade union congress at Plymouth
| this week. A slump In trade has
struck labor a deadly blow. The
membership of the unions has de-
clined by nearly three millions in the
! last three years. 1t is still worse
| that nearly all of the unions are
| bankrupt owing to a series of great
but unsuccessful strikes. 1t is GER
/ tain that the situation will grow
worse during the winter which is
expected to be the most difficult
time since the war.
! With trade sinking and unemploy-
/ ment increasing the unions are bank
| rupt. No wonder the delegates met
! with long faces and bad tidings. One
| result is that the only labor daily in
the country. the Daily Herald is
/ expected to cease publication. Hith-
erto 1t has been supported by levies
on the unions. but the unions are now
| too impoverished to carry the burden.