Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-14
FRANCO-|TAL|AN
TREATY FORESEEN
Paris Nervously Awaited Re-
suit of Conference Between
MuSsoIini and Chamberlain.
By Radio to The Star.

By Radio to The Star.
PARIS, April 13.-Every time q
great statesman visits Italy and has an
interview with MuSsolinj the hearts of
French diplomats bound nervously
For the eyes of the Quai d'Orsay off,
Gals are INCREASINGLY directed across
the Alps toward the Palazzo Chigi,
which, in the view of many of them,
is the heart of all international in
trigues A pang was felt in Paris when
it was learned that II Duce had gone
to Florence for a talk with Sir Austen
Chamberlain.
M. Caron de Beaumarchais, French
Ambassador to Rome. who happened to
be in Paris, remembered how four years
ago an imprudent word said by Cham
berlain to Mussolini allowed the latter
to conclude a treaty with Albania that
gave Italy free hand on the Adriatic.
He wondered whether the Florence in
terview would not upset the arduouS
work he has been doing in Rome for
two years trying to bring friendly
arrangement between Italy and France.
A day later the fears of the French
Ambassador were appeased; Sir Austen
had proved a faithful friend to M.
BRAND
Agreement Is Believed Near.
AS the French foreign Office learned
with relief during the talk with the
italian dictator, the British minister
pointed out to Mussolini the necessity
to settle promptly all the problems pend
ing between the two neighboring Latin
countries.
NJ. de Beaumarchais now feels his
way has been solidly paved for the final
ARRANGEMENT, which he hopes to sign
within the coming months. Yet his
work in Rome has been particularly
difficult He had to settle with the
Duce two delicate questions: The Italian
government was asking for special
regime for Italian subjects living In
TuniSia, and it wanted France to cede
to Italy the strip of territory in the
Sahara that connected Tripolitania with
Lake Chad.
On the first problem compromise
satisfactory TO Italy had been arrived
at, though 1t had not been signed. The
italians will enjoy the Tunisia regime,
the most favored nation. The first gen.
Grafton born in Tunisia will remain
italian. The second generation will
have the right, when coming of age, to
choose between France and Italy as
their mother country. Only the third
generation will be obliged to become
French. Thus Fascism will retain in its
ranks for another 20 or 80 years a
couple million Italian citizens.
Territory Division Refused.
But while M. Beaumarchais has
been conciliatory on the first point, he
has remained adament as regards the
second. France will not split her terri
tory in Central Africa by giving Italy
access to Chad. All she consented to
give italy in the Sahara is a small
portion of her land south from Tunisia,
with one of the fertile GASES that could
eventually help the Italian troops and
colonists in Tripolitania. On these
lines France considers the agreement
ready to be signed at any moment, but
until now Italy has refused to accept
1t, hoping to get better terms.
In fact, the sudden growth of interest
France has lately shown for her Cen
trail African empire has alarmed Musso-
lini's government. For Italy the for
nation of a solid bloc of French terri
tory connected by a tranSsahara rail-
way extending from the Mediterranean
to the Kongo would mean serious
almost deadly. danger In case OF war
with France.
Besides, Italy is striving to increase
her colonial possessions, and it seems
rather unfair to the Fascist leaders
that France-the country with de-
creasing population - should control
one-third of Africa, while the over
populated Italy must content herself
with the Tripon deserts and Somaliland.
Thus the colonial problem has been
during the last months the chief ap-
pie of discord between Rome and Paris.
It has prevented the signature of
general agreement. It is now felt here
the friendly advice given by Sir Austen
to Mussolini in Florence may induce
Duce to become more conciliatory as
regards his claims for the Sehara
Desert.
downright. 1927