Evening star., 1926-02-09

It,fy's dictator. the "Duce," Musso-
lini, has stirred Europe as II mas not
been stirred since the ultimatum OF
Austria which started the World war.
In q speech In Parliament, he issued
his ultimatum to the German repuDllc
that he will tolerate no more OF Ger
many's attacks upon the Italian poll
cies in the South Tyrol-the territory
acquired by Italy from Austria by the
st. Germaine treaty.
The dictator's speech wrought his
hearers to a frenzy Of enthusiasm,
though IT appeared 50 bellicose as TO
amount almost to q declaration OF war
upon Germany and Austria. No event
Of the last decade has more completely
demonstrated the reversal OF condi.
tions, compared with the days OF
Kaiser Wilhelm. than this defiance OF
Germany and open threat OF military
action by Italy. whose power prior to
the World War was almost negligible.
What is it all about7 The ''presi-
dent" Of Bavaria had spoken words OF
sympathy for the poor Germans
It had passed under the power Of Fas-
cist Italy. That was the outward
provocation of the Italian threat OF
war. But that does not tell the whole
|
story.
A German business man who is
close to official confidence explains
that In the South Tyrol there are
10000 German-speaking people. of
whom some 10000 are Of Italian birth.
though speaking no Italian. Italy is
alleged to be suddenly and cruelty
guage out Of the schools and even out
OF the churches In prayers, substitut.
ing Italian. 1t was not that Ger
many and Austria had used aliens in
their territories. They had taught
German, but had done 1t CONSIDERABLY
gradually. True. Austria had been
rather harsh in its treatment Of Tyro-
lese Italians, but what had that to do
with Germany? Bavaria is only one
province or state Of the German re-
public; what its president said could
ment Of the German foreign Office.
The foreign minister will speak in the
Fseichstag Tuesday or Wednesday in
reply to the speech Of Mussolini. Then
the world will know the truth.
+ +
The German informant turned to
history and cited the story Of the
Tyrol. It belonged to a German tribe
In the days Of Augustus, AID. 1;
Augustus took it. and the Romans
kept 1t 500 years. Then the Ostigoths
and the Langobarden took It, and for
centuries its counts and dukes were
SO powerful that the Tyrol remained
Independent. until, in 1857. it was
conquered by Austria and remained
Austrian until Napoleon took it In
1905 and presented 1t to Bavaria in
reward for her support in the Aus
trfan war. In 1914, when Napoleon
fell, Austria regained possession. In
1918 she lost South Tyrol to Italy oy
the ST. Germaine treaty settling the
World War. Yes, Italy has a right
to require all people in her domain to
learn Italian, but she should give
them time-not force even school
children in the first grades to study
only in Italian
All Europe appears alarmed by
MuSSolini's outspoken belugerenCy.
The English press says 1t Is re-
pudiation Of the League Of Nations
and the Locarno Treaty. II not also
the Leagues World Court
To the memory OF the interviewer
came that famous short story by
Aphonse Daudet, Ia Derniere
Classe." depicting the last day in
school Of an old French teacher in
Alsace:
my children spoke the aged
schoolmaster, who had taught there
for 20 years. this is the last day !
shall keep school. The order has
come from Berlin that nothing but
German shall be taught In the schools
OF Alsace and Lorraine. The new
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