Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-04
EUROPEAN POWERS
Do NOT ANTICIPATE
ANY GENERAL WAR
League Of Nations to Re-
ceive Its Greatest Test in
Effort to Avert Struggle

LONDON, Sept. 2.-Five thousand
a Italian troops have been landed al
Corfu. says an Athens dispatch tc
the Exchange Telegraph. These
soldiers were sent ashore from fif
teen naval vessels.
DOMINATION OF ADRIATIC
is PRIZE IN STRUGGLE
LONDON, Sept. 2.-By the Asso
ciated Press. 1.-The near eastern
crisis pivoted today upon Geneva
where the council OF the League OF
Nations had fortunately arranged a
meeting before it was known 1t
would be faced by the strongest test
of the leagues vitality which has yet
confronted it. The council went only
SC far as to adopt a resolution urS-
ing moderation upon the Greek ana
Italian governments until the coun-
ell could examine the circumstances
Of the case.
The Italian premier, MussoHnl'
telegraphed to all the powers ana
the League of Nations that the Ital-
IAN occupation of Corfu was a pro-
yisional one, and the Italian min
lister in Athens informed the Greek
government that it should not be
regarded as a hostile act. He adj
vised that Greece should refrain
from belligerency, adding that the
Italian fleet would leave when
Italy's demands had been complied
with.
The Italian government asserts
strongly that the question as not one
for the League of Nations, but COLI
Germs only Italy and Greece and al
fects Italv's honor. The Greek gov
eminent apparently adopts an attl-
Jude of helplessness; it says it is III
he hands of the League of Nations
5 and will do whatever the league de-
cides it should do, The Greek gov
prnment also says it is prepared to
accept in advance any reparations
demanded by the council of ambas-
sailors.
Protests Against Attack
Greece has protested 20 the powers
AGAINST the bombardment of Corfu
and makes the point that the ltal-
ians opened fire at 4 o'clock In the
afternoon. whereas the second ultI-
matum was not to expire until
o'clock. Greece also makes the point
that Corfu was not fortified. The
reports of the casualties there vary
from ten killed or wounded to fifteen
killed.
The Italian navy proceeded with
the organization of. Corfu in bust
nesslike way. Vice Admiral Simon
ETH was appointed governor and
= local police who were willing TO
serve were drafted into the Italian
. service. This proceeding is not wei
coined with enthusiasm abroad, GER
tainly not in England, for while all
comments, official and by the news
papers here, with exceptions on the
part of a few liberal papers, are
guarded. there is beneath the sur
face unmistakable uneasiness regard
Ing Mussolini's ambitions, for the
Italian premier is still a man OF
mystery abroad. 1t is not forgot
ten in England that about the time
of his rise to power he made a speech
-oicing his belief that Italy's destiny
is to play a far more powerful part
in the Mediterranean than hereto
fore
Opportunity may be knocking sc
hard on Mussolini's door in the
present instance that he may not
z. be able to resist sealing Italy's dom
ination of the Adriatic. That is the
apprehension which the Italians
coup at Corfu arouses. MussOllnl
fas Italy's ancient enemy in his
grasp Will he let go completely, IN
response to the wishes of the other
powers is a question hardly asked
but limited. While the British and
French papers draw parallel be
tween today and the events of the
summer of 1914. there is determine
ton in this country that no general
European war shall result. The
British papers express the heartles1
good will toward Italy, even those
who criticize her leader.
France appears alike with Eng
land in CAT efully avoiding any stel
of even the mildest form of interven
ton which might offend Italy. Then
ambassadors have not been instruct
ed to make any representations t
the Italian government.
Conditions Favor Italy
This crisis arose at an opportun'
time for Italy in one respect. Botf
Great Britain and France wan
Italys support in dealing with thu
other absorbing difficulty-the settle
ment of the German reparatIons
both have good reasons to refraii
from making themselves appear coo
to Italy or her real ruler. Ripple
are visible on the surface of al
fairs, which is characteristic of Eu
!. ropean politics in delicate situations
and sections of the press in botf
Paris and London hint that tn
papers of the two capitals haven
shown an attitude toward Italy a
friendly as they might display.
The precincts of Downing Stree
give no evidence of anything unusua
stirring IN world diplomacy. Tn
prime minister is spending a vaca
ton at a French watering place ant
it is said he does not intend to cur
tail his vacation Lord Curzon, fol-
eign secretary, is returning tonigh
from France, it is asserted, accord
ing to previous plan.
Significant naval movements ar
reported Lieut.. Col. Amory frs
lord of the admiralty, is proceeding
to Malta. which is the British nava
base in the Mediterranean, but he
on a totr of inspection. combine
with a vacation which he announce
Q several weeks ago.
One of the Unusual features of thi
crisis is the lack of discussion {
6 the crime which brought it abou
the crime seems to have been almos
forgotten under debate of the ia
reaching interest it precipitated. =