Evening star., 1927-10-24
BRITAIN PROPOSES
NEAR EAST TREATY
TO COMBAT SOVIET
Rivera Admits Discussion of
Scheme for Spain to
Quit Morocco.
FRANCE WOULD STEP IN,
LEAVING SYRIA TO ITALY
Mussolini Said to Favor Project,
Giving Rome Outlet for
Surplus Population.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
Rv Cable TO The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright 1927.
LONDON, October 24-Gen. Primo
de Rivera, the Spanish dictator. has
granted an interview to the CORE
spondent of a London newspaper In
which he disclosed the rea son for his
recent meeting with Foreign Minister
Chamberlain.
"We discussed the possibility of
Spain's withdrawal from Morocco" he
is quoted as saying.
Although this statement was denied
later. at the special request Of the
British foreign office, there are rea.
sons to believe it was entirely correct.
The writer learns from relia BILE sources
that Mr.. Chamberlain, in his endeavor
to assure permanent peace in Western
Europe and to form solid barrier
against the ever-growing Soviet
menace to Great Britain. drafted a
plan. which. if successful, will remove
all elements of trouble between Italy
and her neighbors.
This plan, according to the writer's
information, is as 1oloWS:
France to Step In.
Spain agrees, in exchange for a
substantial loan and a seat in the
Council of the League of Nations, to
withdraw her troops from northern
Morocco, which will be handed to
France. France, obtaining thus con-
troll of the entire north African terri
tory from Tunis to Tangier. agrees
to ask the League of Nations to re-
lieve her of her Syrian mandate,
which will be intrusted to Italy.
The British foreign office plan is
simple and, if accepted. highly eff
ficient. Spain always has considered
western Morocco a white elephant.
1t costs her huge sums and brings
in no revenue. A financial crisis in
Spain, due in large extent to the Riff
War, is causing serious concern to
the Spanish premier and the sub
stantial loan promised by Mr.. Cham
berlain would enable de Rivera to
consolidate his own position as well
as that of the dynasty, and he conse-
quently is willing. to sell his white
elephant for considerable sum.
France is eager to order control
over the Riff because this would con.
solidate her north African posses
sions. On the other hand, it is an
open secret that the French govern
ment long has been anxious to get
rid of it's own white elephant-Syria
which has cost her vast sums Of
money and many lives, and has
brought no profit at ALL
Syria has large colonizing poten-
tialities, but the French never intended
colonizing there and from a purely
rrsn inf a. ys<r
proved a complete failure.
Solution Pleases French.
France would have abandoned Syria
at the beginning of the revolt of the
Druses had her leaders been able to
find a dignified way out. The solution
offered by Mr.. Chamberlain is more
than satisfactory.
When the British foreign secretary,
Immediately after his conversation
with Gen. de Rivera, approached For
eign Minister BRAND of France on the
subject. he found the latter almost
enthusiastic over the scheme.
To Italy the idea of taking over
the mandate for Syria is more than
appealing. Since the large surplus
population of Italy is barred from
immigration to the United States,
Dictator Mussolini has been endeavor-
ing to find a place under the sun for
those who could not earn living in
Italy. He looked toward Tunis and
western Anatolia and. according to
reliable report, was prepared to go to
war to obtain territory for his surplus
population. Syria is only thinly popu-
lated and has large possibilities for
economic development. 1t has large
cotton-growing areas and ample min.
eral resources. which so far have not
been exploited.
Geographically, Syria is much nearer
Italy than it is to France, and the
Italians could provide the necessary
forces to maintain order at much low
er cost than France. A mandate over
the country would suit Italy's political
and economic plans perfectly.
BOlsters England's Security.
The scheme not only would satisfy
the interests of these three Mediter.
ranean states, but also would increase
Great Britain's security. The presence
Of an Italian army on the Turkish
border would constitute an efficient
control over Turkey. So far, Mustapha
Kennel Pasha has been living in fear
of an italian attack, designed to bring
about the annexation of Anatolia. This
danger would be removed, but if Tur.
key continued to play into the hands
of Soviet Russia, the powerful Italian
army would be menace to the young
republic.
. King Feisal, now in London, also
welcomes the plan, which would con-
solidate the Arabs under the tutelage
of Great Britain and Italy. Italy al
ready has signed treaty of amity
and commerce with the new Hedjaz
ruler, Ibn Soud and the writer Is ad.
vised British and Italian financiers
are endeavoring to float an Anglo -Ital-
ian company for development of
Arabia.
Should the proposed scheme prove
successful, the entire Near East would
be brought under indirect control Of
the British. 1t would form a solid
Gordon against Soviet intrigues and
also would be able to exercise pressure
nn porSia and x,,b;ot xa1,y