San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-09
Lacks the Skill and Sublety
of Poincare in the
Ruhr.
SHOWS MAILED FIST
England Alarmed by At
tempt to Torpedo League
of Nations.
By A. G. GARDINER.


Copyright. by the San Antonio Light.
London, Sept. S.-Between the pc
liticai thunderbolt from Italy and the
earthquake in Japan even such events
as the trade union congress, the pub
LEGATION of Mr.. AsQuith's war boo
and the production of the new Charli,
Chaplin film have aroused small at
tention from the public.
Public opinion is overwhelmingly
hostile to Mussolini's action. Th'
Harmsworth press, as usual, applaud:
violent action from anybody, bu
apart from this the press is unani
nous in denunciation of the proceed
ings which make Austria's ultimatun
to Serbia seem temperate and reason
able and the German invasion of Bel
GUM a modest experiment in brigand
age.
Mussolini has taken his cue from
Premier Poincare in the Ruhr. but has
acted crudely and blunderingly, where
Premier Poincare acted with extraOrd
mary skill. Throughout Poincare ha:
SOuSHI W puOiiS OPihOh VI th'
world with him and has worn the vel
vet glove over the mailed fist, Will.
Mussolini has flourished the mailed
fist in the face of Europe and giver
it blow that has shaken it to tht
foundation.
England Is Indignant.
The shock to England is particu
larry heavy. Historically England ha'
great affection for Italy. datins
from Giribaldian days. but Mussolini''
bomb has aroused Indignation in al
responsible quarters. 1t is regarded a
a deliberate attempt to torpedo til,
League of Nations and TO initiate 6
game of grab at the expense of ittl'
nations.
Has Mussolini over-shot the mark
His object is undisguised. He wants
to consolidate his position in Italy
by a dramatic coup and. with th'
seizure of Corfu, make the Adriati'
an Italian lake.
He calculated that, in the present
position of relations between England
and France, he could jump the CLAIM
and present it with fait acompli. HI
was encouraged in this course by tht
startling success of Turkey, which has
recovered all she lost in the war b.
playing off France against England
But while France was willing to GIVE
patronage to the Turk. it is much les:
certain that she was disposed to bach
Italy. No love is lost between thosf
countries. Moreover. Jugoslavia is il
a panic at the Italian move and al
the prospect that she has only escaped
the claws of Austria to fall into the
claws of Italy.
France is indisposed to sacrifice
Jugoslavia, which she regards US one
of her outposts in Europe, to Italy
which she neither loves nor trusts.
1t is possible. therefore, that Mus
solini will find that he has fallen be-
tween two stools and has antagonized
a friendly England without placating
an unfriendly France.
Cecil Fights for League.
Events at Geneva are being fol
lowed with deep concern. Lord Rober;
Cecil realizes that the existence oil
the League of Nations is at stake
through the action of Mussolini and
he is fighting a gallant battle to save
the institution of which he, Wilson
and SHUTS were the chief authors.
The attitude of France is not cleac
but the small nations are supporting
teCll. WHO IOW udS llTlily estdDilsntu
himself as the chief hone of all the
pacific forces in Europe. If the
league goes down in this struggle il
will hardly survive the humiliation
If it wins its prestige is established
France holds the key. Her position
is equivocal. Po;ncare loves neithe-
Italy nor the league. If he backs Mus
solini in his defiance of the league
he parts company with his allies. II
he supports the league he can hardly
refuse to submit to its authority him.
self. What will he do?
Labor Has Gloomy Outlook.
A very gloomy feeling pervaded the
Trade Union Congress at Plymouth
this week. 4 slump in trade has struck
labor a deadly blow. The membership
of the unions has declined by nearly
100000 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. II
is certain that the situation will grow
worse during the winter, which is ex-
pected TO be the most difficult time
since the war.