Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-31
PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE
NOTABLE DURING YEAR
Cancellation of France and Germany.
Debt Funding and Sterilization i'm 5
Nations Among Outstanding Events.

since the beginning Of the war i'm 1914
nave been placed on a foundation that
promises to he solid Tho actt,aI
qualification of the franc has not vet
been accomplished. and there are
many bridges to cross before II be.
comes a fact, but the first long step.
that of restoring public confidence i'm
me government and it's promises, has
been taken
ItalO-Albanian Treaty.
Greek and Jugoslav apprehensions
over the Italo-Albanian treaty have
raised one cloud i'm Europe's serene
sky. The treaty puts unruly Alba
MA under Italian tutelage much as
the Platt amendment gave the United
states the guardianship Of Cuba. But
just as the United States has cxer-
cised similar powers in Haiti and San
Domingo without specific treaty au.
thorization, so Italy in the pursuit of
her Adriatic policy would undoubtedly
occupy Albania whenever the AL.
bantam situation threatened her con.
troll of the Adriatic, treaty or no
treaty.
The new agreement simply legalizcs
situation that already existed, al
though it naturally wounds Jugoslav
pride, just as American Intervention
III ANlLdEdS WOuiluS MEXICO . prize.
France and Italy at Odds.
Franco-Italian friction is the only
other considerable cloud ON the diplo-
matte horizon today The condition
has been latent ever since the begin
ming of the Mussolini dictatorship. the
idea Of which is repugnant to the
French love of liberalism aud parlia-
mentary forms. MusSolini has UNI
doubedly found that tanning the en-
bers of national pride has helped to
unite his people and take their minds
off their domestic grievances. and the
pursuit of this policy has led him at
various times to make remarks which
have been strongly resented I'm
France. He has, for example, at
tempted to hold France responsible
for some of the numerous attempts
on his life.
on the other side, the Garibaldi
affair seems TO indicate that the Fas-
Cist government has not always kept
its feet scrupulousIy ON it's own side
of the frontier. Col. RicciOtG Carl
baldi. grandson of the great Italian
liberator, has always posed as an ex-
pOnent of liberal ideas and an enemy
of F'ascism, but the evidence tends to
show that he has in reality been act
ing as an agent proVocateur" for the
Mussollni government. These revela-
tons have profoundly stirred French
opinion.
England Holds Whip Hand.
The result is that steps toward the
hoped-for combination of the ''big-
four" powers in Europe can hardly be
taken until this feeling is Gained. At
nd
composed their differences, virtually
the only questions remaining to be adj
justed being those of German diSarm-
ament and the termination of allied
occupation in the Rhineland both near
solution. Great Britain processes Ia
be in favor of the broadcast possible
alliance of powers to guarantee peace.
Only Italy, among the big four, re-
mains outside at the present moment
1t should be remembered, however.
that Italy is practically at England :
mercy, by virtue of the British naval
domination of the Mediterranean, and
the logical conclusion is that when
England actively desires it the adhe-
sion of Italy to the so-called -four
square" scheme is assured.
Possible Menace to United States.
The consolidation of European peace
in this fashion, however. might have
far-rea ching effects on Americas for
eign relations. Such a DEVELOPMENT
might mean primarily that England
policy of holding the balance of power
in Europe had been abandoned in ia.
vor OF a new plan of joining forces
with a united Continent i'll world com
petition with America. Such q radi-
cal change in policy on England's part
could not come about except after
careful consideration of the couSp-
Quences, among which two would he
extremely disquieting;
/. The withdrawal of American
financial support from London, today
the principal money market of the
world.
>. The dislocation of the British
Empire through the economic neces
sity for the dominions. particularlr
Canada. TO link their interests with
those of the United States.
American capital and empire trade
are two OF the largest elements in
British prosperity today, and for these
two reasons alone 1t is unlikely that
England Will throw her influence Just
now in the direction of economic unity
In Europe, however artlently IL may
be desired by apostles of peace, in
Guiding Secretary Hoover. An Geo
united Europe would almost
necessarily be to England either foe
or ally, and either way would be al
most equally dangerous.
Europe has made wonderful prog
ress In a year. But the millennium is
not yet,
Copyright 1920