Evening star., 1927-03-21
Almost Certain Conflict
Feared if MussoIini'S
Troops Occupy Albania.
ENGLAND AND FRANCE
BRING PRESSURE TO BEAR
Jugoslavia Declared Ready to 0p-
pose Rome's Plan Despite
Tirana Treaty Rights.
BY HIRAM *. MODERWELL.

By Gable to The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright 1927.
GENEVA, March 21.-The secre,
tariat of the League Of Nations was
on the qui vive today. awaiting de
| veIopments in the Italo-Serb crisis
over Albania, which threatens to cast
an ironic gloom over the opening ses-
sion of the disarmament conference.
Tension here has been increased by
the virtual certainty that II Italian
troops, however few, are landed In
Albania, Jugoslavia would instantly
demand that the Leagues, as well as
other diplomatic machinery, be set In
motion. either to force a withdrawal
or permit her to deal alone with the
situation.
British Pressure Felt.
Furope's chancelleries were obliged
to forego their usual week end rest
to bring pressure on Rome ana BEL
grade. Whether this pressure-espe-
cially that brought by Foreign Min
.ster Chamberlain of Great britain
has been sufficient to persuade Die
tator Mussolini to desist from his pre-
sumed intentions to occupy Valona
and Durrazo, in agreement with the
Albanian government, Is pre-occupy'
ing League officials more today tnan
the routine of the disarmament
meeting.
1t is recognized that while hostili'
ties can probably be averted through
diplomatic pressure, the SITUATION
which has been created Will continue
to hold the germ of future wars.
It is almost universally believed that
Dictator Mussolini of Italy firmly In
tends the military occupation OF Al
bania, This Is entirely within his
rights under the Tirana treaty II the
Albanian government so requests.
But if Jugoslavia consented to italy 9
having a military stronghold in Al
baria she srould give up her preten'
tions to being the leading Balkan
state. Therein lies the danger that
she will fight.
Italy Denies War Move.
italy semi-officia1ly asserts that she
Is not preparing an aggressive mill
tary action against any one. and this
lis unuuestionably true, since Musso'
linis interest is to occupy Albania
without opposition on the invitation
of his obedient ally, Ahmet Zogu. the
Albanian President. II Jugoslavia at
tempted to oppose such an occupation
In a military way II would technically
constitute an act Of war against AL
bania and would confirm Italian asser'
tions that she has been preparing for
such an invasion.
Jugoslavia's difficult legal position is
further complicated by the presumed
neutrality of Rumania In case OF an
Italo-Jugoslav conf1ict--a neutrality
which. II Is generally believed here
| of the Bessarabian annexation.
Although no direct evidence yet ex
lists that Mussolini intends to land
troops in Albania, the maneuvers c1
the past three days Gncluding the AL
banian mobilization in view Of the al
legged Jugoslav menace) are exactly
those which would legally justify such
an occupation.
May Ask League Action.
NJ. Jovanovitch, the Jugoslav minis
ter to Berne and official representative
of Jugo.slavia at the preliminary dis
armament conference, told the cores
pondent today:
II deny categorically that there has
been any mobilization or military pre-
parations by Jugo-slavia. Our entire
interest Is to keep the peace and be.
come friends with Italy. My govern.
ment is willing to submit the mobiliza.
ton story to the commission of league
military experts"
M. Jovanovitch indicated that II the
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