Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-22
BY FRANK II. sIMONDS.
ARIS.-Will the 1928 see some real
y readjustment Of the relation
between France and Italy?
No question L. hefnQ asked

- readjustment of the relation
between France and Italy?
i No question Is being asked
more anxiously all over Europe.
Nor Is any international discussion at
present on the calendar for 1928 more
important than that which Is now open
ing in Rome. Upon It depends. not so
the immediate future. but rather the
much broader problem Of an ultimate
! sterilization Of Europe through the adj
! justment Of Balkan problems.
| The fact that Italy has Just sta
bilized the Ira obviously precludes any
considerable adventure in foreign af-
| fairs for many months. Wisely and
carefully as this sterilization has been
prepared and successful as 1t promises
to be. there are always certain inevi-
| table risks.
France and Italy are going 20 have
| an almost ideal atmosphere in which
! to talk. Recent utterances by Musso-
| lini and BRAND have notably improved
| the tone of comment on both sides OF
! the Alps For the moment. at least,
all the charges and counter charges OF
the recent Albanian dispute have been
| silenced II 1t would be an exaggera-
| ton to say that there is confidence or
! enthusiasm either In Rome or Paris,
there is at least willingness to make
| an experiment in reconciliation.
Dificulty In Situation.
The difficulty in the situation. how
ever. lies In the fact that France and
Italy are pursuing and nave pursued
! for q number Of years totally differ
cnt form Of international politics. At
| the bottom OF the French conception
! lies the idea that the Europe which
was created as a consequence OF the
war must be preserved without change
and that the League Of Nations Is the
| instrument for the preservation OF the
status quo.
| Following this idea France has asso-
ciated with herself in the League and
bound to herself by treaties made under
the framework of the League. treaties
of friendship and in many cases Of ALI
| Czechoslovakia, JugoSlavia and Ru-
mania. In addition the pacts Of Lo-
carno. by assuring France the support
| Of Britain against any new German at
tack. have given her security against
any existing danger coming from across
the Rhine.
For the time being. then. precisely
as long as Germany Is diSarmed and
/ occupied, France possesses o very def
mite supremacy on the continent OF
4 Europe. a supremacy which Is military
because associated with her are all the
4 states save Italy. possessing consider
able armies. and political because these
| states have the same common interests
In preserving the status quo
Italy's policy is based on quite an
| other conception. Italy finds herself
| without useful colonies. with too httle
I land 10 support her still rapidly ex-
/ panding population in Europe and no
| territories TO which 20 transport them
Fascist Italy Young.
The Italy Of Mussoiini Is . young
country. fired by q superpatriotic pas
! sion. but at the same time materially.
as well as morally. aware Of the weak
ness Of its situation. II Italy Is to be
great power in any real sense. II
must escape from the limitations
which its present territorial situation
| imposes upon It. In . word. while
| France can continue . very great
| power In Europe only while the existing
state Of affairs continues. italy cannot
| become In reality q great power while
/ this unfavorable balance stands.
! At the bottom Of the italian purpose
lies the resolve to make q place for
| Italy In the sun. But wherer Across
I
| Riff extends the French North African
| Empire. Here. 10 be sure, there is room
/ for Italian colonization. bu, the colo
niSts themselves are all too soon alb
| sorbcd into the French population.
thanks to well designed naturalization
laws
Al the other end Of the Mediterra-
| mean. Britain Is in. Egypt. she IS at
! Gibraltar and Malta. she holds = man
date for Palestine. while France holds
| another for Syria For the moment ~
| least. expansion in Turkey, 80 long an
| italian dream. Is barred by NATIONAL
| army, Holding Rhodes and the Do
| decanesus. Italy may watchnally await
some new collapse In Turkey. but for
| the moment the road Is barred
Finally. acrcS the narrow Adrtatc
there has arisen q strong Slav STATE
| extending from Cattaro to Ffunie and
| d,spu.ing with Italy not alone the
| future control OF the Adriatic, but
the immediate political and military
| supremacy in Albania. which in all
Italian eyes stands for the Belgium Of
the Savoy monarchy,
Would Replace hapSeurg<.
| In the postwar Europe as it exists
the Italian conception has been 10
exercise In all the Balkan region DO
liticai and economic influence, Italy
| has felt herself the heir OF the old
| HapSburg monarchy. and has Siriven
10 replace Austria Hungary IS the
dominant fcrce In all the region frcfa
| Vienna 20 Salcniea,
Here. however, she has come into
collision with the French SYSTEM
Through the Little Entente. closely
allied with France. French influence
has made itself felt With equal
strength In Prague, Belgrade and IN
Bucharest, Al Italian efforts TO de-
| 10 arrive az q defnste settlement With
| yugoSlavia, III play major role IN
Vienna, have been wrecked In every
case the states Interested attached 4
greater value 10 the French than ~
the Italian association,
Moreover. when Italy has sought ~
construct counter-eafNninAtios, 10
play Oh Hungary. Bulgaria and Al
hania and even at the moment Ggceee.
against the French Little Entente
srcap the result has eeen unhappy
because. aS IN the case M the Al
bantam affair, which marked the MAX
ins ~ the Treaty ~ rtsaNa. FSeneh
support has siven IL the Little Entente
l@wVsN tNNAeNm MNAN WkAVAhANAVN
Moreover, neither hulsaria nor Hun
gary has been or Is IN a position. even
With Italian aid, To risk an og,ea styus~
gle with the Little Entente backed BY
French NMpAthy and support
ThuA Italy has found her eftextS 10
assert political and erSuscmte supremacy
IN the balkans unsuccessful she has
increasingly encountered the Little IN.
tente, Committed 10 the fundamental
principles az "the balkans for the
balkans" and she has aroused Ealro.
peAn erisieism rather than Ssspgsest
Experiments With rsw~r~
Parallel With her esfosts In the Hal.
kama, Italy has made two exnerm,ents
WITH great poWefN Al times MuSsssltni