Evening star., 1926-08-22

sin with Italy. Shortly after the
World War ended, when Italian IRE
dentism was running high. fears for
the TeSSin were we'll grounded. Two
thirds Of Switzerland had been pro-
German during the war and numer-
Gus border Incidents occurred while
l4ugano and Locarno were centers
through which the German intelli-
gence system operated.
So strong became the fears of an
Italian coup, especially after dan
nunzio's occupation of Fiume, that
the Swiss took special precautions for
defense of the canton. Laeer. to
quiet apprehensions. Mussolini. in the
precarious stage of his dictatorship,
negotiated an arbitration treaty"
with Berne which was calculated to
allay all anxieties. In effect. it
pledges Rome to submit any and all
disputes to The Hague or to a board
Of conciliation.
Treaty Faith Doubted.
While the Swiss federal govern
ment points to this treaty as ample
protection. when the inhabitants of
the Tessin become nervous, it is ad-
mitted the Italians would find a way
around should annexation" become
desirable. In the past six months q
series Of cumulative incidents have
taken place, all of which have been
carefully noted by the Palazzo Chigi.
After the anti-Fascist riots in
Geneva Mussolini instructed Ambas-
sador GarbaZzo to protest officiall. to
Bern and to inform the Swiss for
etgn office that il the disorders re-
occurred, Italy. much to her regret"
would be unable to send further dele4
cations to the league or international
conferences in Geneva. In fact.
Rome would adopt the same attitude
that Soviet Russia did following the
assassination Of Vorowsky at the
Lausanne conference, namely, that it
would be unable to send state officials
where they were not assured protec-
ton.
Now comes the disquieting news
from the Tessin that there is in prog
ress an excessive influx Of German
Swiss. Since the Tyrol incidents.
which brought the mailed fist" of
Mussolini down on German propa-
ganda against the administration of
the newly acquired Tyrol provinces
by the Italians. there has been bad
At this writing there are persistent
rumors that Rome will veto Ger
many's admission into the league in
September. Mussolini has already an
nounced he will veto the transfer Of
any inundated territories" to Ger
many, which was one Of the sub
rosa agreements reached at Locarno.
That is, he will veto any presents"
to Germany unless Italy first gets her
share. And there is nothing that
Italy desires more at the moment
than colonial possessions
Antasonism Lies Deep.
But the antagonism against Ger
many goes even deeper. Much as
Mussolini hates the League of Ma
tions. he is not willing to lose any
advantages he may gain through its
membership. Hence Italy's continued
affiiation. after the Corfu incident.
With Germany's enseatment on the
council the league may take on an
entirely different complexion. And
especially If Spain wtthdraWs, and
Brazil remains away. will the Latin
bloc be impaired.
The Fascist Press. edited at the
Palazzo Chigi. is we'll aware Of the
dangers. And any growth in German
influence Is looked upon with sus'
picion. Hence the reason for the jim
poistic comments upon the so-called
"Germa nization' Of the Tessin. Swift
zerland's southernmost canton. which
hitherto has had a predominant
italian population.
The Tessinese, while pure Italian,
have always been loyal Swiss. They
have preserved the balance OF the
French .German-Italian character OF
the confederation and guaranteed its
neutrality. With italy. France and
Germany as its neighbors, 1t would
have been suicidal for the republic to
enter into the World War. The In
ternal strife would have ended IN
civil var and the disruption of the
confederation.