Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-20
BY FRANK III. SIMONDs.

~ ECENT weeks have seen strik.
- ing developments in the Euro
TN pean situation which may have
| Il important consequences. Many,
If not all of these develop
ments, too. are associated with a sud
den burst of British activity on the
continent. The activity has plainly
had as its immediate objective to unite
the continent against Soviet Russia
and to strengthen the position Of the
various states along the Russian Dor
| der from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
| OF first Importance in this series of
events was the Italian ratification of
| the treaty of 1920, in which France,
| Britain, Italy and Japan recognized
| Rumanian sovereignty in Bessarabia.
| France and Britain had ratified the
| treaty, but 1t did not become valid
| until there We're three Publications. al
| though Rumania has steadily held
Bessarabia. Now not only is the Ru-
| manian title established but the Ru-
nanians are assured of measure
OF support in case OF Russian attack.
Offer to Italy Seen.
Enthusiastically this italian step was
| in part influenced by purely Italian
considerations. France and Italy are
rivals at Bucharest. But not only
had the French ratified the Bessara-
bian treaty., but they had also nego-
| tiated later treaty of mutual friend
ship with Rumania. which contained
a promise TO aid Rumania in preserv-
ing her territorial integrity with Bessa.
rabia. Italy in similar treaty had
excluded the Bessarabian detail. Thus
to balance French promises, Italy had
to take similar engagements
Eeucr1
the British circumstance. Recent con-
versations between Mussolini and
Winston Churchill certainly contrib
uted to the present decision. Hitherto
Italy has steadily sought to keen
her hands free and has maintained
good relations with Russia 1t is fair
to assume, therefore, that there must
have been some British offer which
explains the complete change in policy
disclosed in the recent act.
In fact, Italy is manifestly eager
TO get out OF her present position of
isolation in Europe, and an under.
standing with Britain, the greatest
Mediterranean naval power, has OBJ
vious advantages.
In recognizing Rumanian title to
Bessarabia Italy breaks off her close
relations with Russia and thus Joins
the British In an anti-Soviet policy In
Europe. Britain and Italy thus he
come. in sense. guarantors of Ru-
fnanian integrity, as France has long
been OF Polish. Poland and Rumania.
are also united in a definite defensive
alliance against Russia Thus Ru-
mania and Poland become, literally,
the advanced guards of the three
great western powers, France. Italy
and Britain, against the Soviets.
Would Line Up Baltic States.
At the same time it is also clear
that efforts have been made and are
continuing to bring about some asso-
citation of the Baltic States and Fin.
land against the growing menace of
Russian intrigue in the Baltic area.
The British policy, however has
immediate and unpleasant conse-
quences for the Germans. Germany
is eager to maintain and even extend
her friendly relations with Great |
Britain. She is particularly anxious |
to have British support in her cam. |
paign to bring about an early evacua- |
ton Of the Rhineland by allied troops. |
On the other hand, she had always |
counted upon British support in her /
eventual effort to recover the Polish |
Corridor. Upper Silesia and Danzig
at Geneva
Against this western policy, how
ever. Germany has set an eastern
policy. The Nationalsts, who are
now the dominating element in the
new Marx cabinet, have always cher
ished the dream of a later combina-
ton with Russia to suppress Poland.
Other Germans have insisted that the
w1sest conceivable policy would be to
keep their hands free in the case of
both Britain and Russia. All ele-
nents have. however, agreed in an
anti-Polish policy. So far, too, they
have looked to Russia for ultimate
aid.
Now the British have clearly dis
closed purpose to support the Dor
der states against Russia But sup
port OF Rumania and Poland cannot
merely mean support against Russia. !
Both states would be hopelessly weak
ened in the face of Russia If they [
were obliged to resign the western {
ands taken after the war from Hun !
gary and Germany, respectively.
Franco-British Differences.
During the Lloyd George era, and {
even in the later time before Locarno, I
he British inclined to the view that {
ne easiest way to insure peace would I
be to compel the Poles to make ter