The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-02
England And France Are Both Awaiting Outcome Greco Italian Outbreak With Con- cern And PrayerfuI Hope
 P0lNCAlRE IS HOLDING BACK ON DEFINITE STEP Great Britain Ready To Ac- cept League Of Nations De- ciSion While Frances Inter- estS Appear Complicated
By CHARLES M'CANN Leased Wire to The Age-Herald

LONDON, Sept 1.-England and France today await with grave con- cern the outcome of the League of Nations first great test as an in- strument to prevent war.
 As Italy continued her military and naval preparations, extended her occupations in the Mediterran- can and further manifested her sup port of Premier Mussolinrs deter Balkans, the League of Nations is- sued request to both Italy and Greece to withhold hostilities until the League has had an opportunity to study tne situation.
 This accompanied word from Rome that Italian sailors had. seized the wireless stations on the Island of Palmos. that Italian seapianes were scouting the coast of Greece, that Italian troops were preparing to ern- bark from the port of Taranto, and that Italian Vice Admiral Simonetti had been appointed governor of the Greek island of Corfu.
 Greece For Peace.
 What relief there was in the tense situation came with word that both Italian and Greek delegates at Ge~ neva had declared there was no in tention of starting a war and the first move toward a settlement was offered by the Creek sdelegate, who promised that his government wou Id make due reparations for the killing of the Italians.
 It Is easy to explain the anxiety of the British and French over the threatening situation and their prayerftl hope and support of the Leagues efforts to effect peace, Britain speculates over the possibit- called upon by the League to CO., operate in event there is necessity for coercive action.
 France, owing to the compleXity of her interests in the Balkans, en- Enthusiastically desires to maintain a hands-off policy lest she compromise her relations with Jugo-Slavia and the other nations of the little en- tente."
 There always is strong British fleet In the Mediterranean, and only recently England decided to uake the Mediterranean main fleet station, as result of which she has been reinforcing her fleet there. British Troops Near.
 Furthermore, there are approxi- mately 15,000 British troops with q full equipment of war munitions and stores now in the Near East, where they are evacuating Turkey. The government does not conceal it's atti- tude that the League has complete Jurisdiction over the Greco-Italian mess and Britain stands ready to ac- cept the Leagues decision.
 Officials generally believe that the affair will be settled without necessity of the Leagte resortlng ( h1sa many doubt that the League will be able to stand the test because of the likelihood that France would sup port Italy.
 The individual in the street-as well. as army and navy men-ask whether, in event the League calls for force, Briton will be compelled as she did for the allies at Constan- tinople.
 As for France, well informed French statesmen say. that Premier Poincare Is deliberately avoiding 6 definite stand for the present. either way. Should she side with Italy she would antagonize Jugo- Slavia. which government already has indicated it's sympathy with the Greeks France has long mothered the "llttlee entente" which includes Jugo- Siavra and has both financial and political interest in the friend ship of these Balkan states.
 Generally speaking, the belief here is that Mussoiini will accede to whatever suggestion the League of Nations makes for settling the dis pute, particularly if there Is evil dence of Anglo French solidarity be- hind the Leagle. Mussolini would have had his spectacular show, would have accomplished hls pur- pose of revealing himself as man of action in international affairs as well as domestic and should step out Of the mess full-fledged hero.