Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-22
'28 MAY BRING SETTLEMENT
OF FRANCO.TTALIAN ROW
Possibility for Solution Seen in Discus.
sion Between BRAND and Mussolini.
Britain and Europe Not to Help Duce.

for Mussolini In the Tory government
which today rules Britain. British
policy not only remains indissolubly
linked to French. but British interests
are best served by preserving the
ranean.
Ali the long tragedy which culni-
mated IN the occupation Of the Ruhr
and the new prostration OF Europe
economically and financially convinced
Britons Of every party that close friend
ship with France was the basis Of al
British foreign policy. Thus while
British influence has steadily been ex-
erted to promote better Franco-Italian
relations. IT has always been clear that
in British policy France comes before
Italy.
In Berlin. Mussoiini has been no
more successful He has. as Breitschild.
the leader Of the Social Democrats,
recently disclosed. openly sought ALL
ance and indicated Z willingness 70
pay for such an alliance by asserting
to Anschluss, that is TO the union Of
Austria with the Reich. But such a
combination could only result in arous-
ing French apprehension and resent
ment, and the main desire Of Germany
today Is 70 get nd Of French armies
of occupation IN advance Of 1885. the
J date when. according TO the treaty, the
Rhineland must be returned.
/ German Bitterness Aroused.
I Again. while Mussolini has been
frankly wooing Germany. Fascist treat
rent Of German minority living IN
the Tyrolean regions which passed 70
italy at the close OF the war has
aroused a German bitterness which
1 has made impossible any German
/ Italian combination.
( However successful Mussolini's do
nestle career has been he has not won
any triumph in the foreign field pro-
portionate TO the aspirations Of his
ccuntrynen or the forecasts Of his own
/ program.
Unmistakably the various gestures Of
Mussolini have compelled the govern
nients Of all European countries TO
recognize the fact Of Italy. But this
| form Of political activity has grave
/ dangers. MusSolini's actions have neTer
I seriously threatened peace. but they
have given the impression Of . belh-
costly which has ended by disturbing
Europe generally.
| As a consequence London has recently
undertaken several experiments IN
bringing about Franco-Italian adjust
ments.
Thus. when I vas In London I vas
told In many quarters that Great
Britain had proposed Franco-Italian
/ adjustment based upon the general
notion that Italy should take over from
France the Syrian mandate. Spain
! should eede 20 France the RiMan coast
Of Morocco. which constitutes an open
wound for Spain and constant menace
| for the French protectorate Of Morocco.
/ The IN n
price for her territory and . loan on
7 favorable terms dcated IN London
Paris and doubtless New York
I Project i'm Baekgrsund.
Such . project u undoubtedly IN the
/ background OF the new Franco-Itaiisn
conversations. France might b wiling
to give up Syria. Certainly The man
( date has been a heavy burden But
would France consen: 20 the sacrifice OF
prestige? And even the possession OF
the Rth coast without Tsngier would
leave the French situation n Morocco
| incomplete But would Britain ever
consent 20 The final fertilization Of the
| French proteciorate By the recognition
Of the French right 70 occupy Tangter?
| Short Of this major Transaction What
| can the Italians and the French dis
cusss Chiefly the status OF Italian tn
[
! Ttlnis there are above 100 900, n France
more than i.Oco ooo France desires
IS quickly as possible 70 absorb this
alien element, that neither tn Tlris nor
Z In Nice and Ihe whole region OF the
/ Maritime Alps shall it be . bass for
I italian political activity.
italian claim for territorial eorsper-
! satscn az the south OF Trfpon Is less
T d:ss.cult 20 meet. since the land involved
Is merely desert. But such ccaceS<scrs
would not provide any shining dipsc-
matte triumph for NuSSclirL The great
/ mass Of French public opinion IS yaSscA
{ republican and. as such utterly I'M
sympathetic With the FaSctSa regime.
Moreover Enthusiastically the aysr-oachinE
election Promises - give new victory
q precisely thG,Ss radical elements which
are most unsriendly - raSciSsn, Thus
any considerable concession 90 Mas
Seliu! would Tot only Dc orpcsed sy sAe
conservative elements fcr national rea-
sons but ev the radical groups
Given the HaSlc facts IN TIE situation
! 70 IS therefore exceedingly easy a. over
estimate the prospects cs success n the
forthcoming coGye-Ss;scaS Despite al
| the chatter ahSssf sister Latin nA;ScssS
| France and Italy are two great ccefs-
| tries whoSe essential interests are nSS
identical o. easily seSccirosased
tts,rvstsN4 laSSh