Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22


THE BRITISH EMPIRE.-It Is re-
ported that the British government Is
about to send invitations to the GOV
ernments Of the United States, France,
italy and Japan to participate in f1ve-
power naval conference to open in Lon
don In the third week Of January.
The Soviet Russian government has
accepted the proposal by the British
government of resumption tin London
on September 24) of negotiations look
ing to resumption OF Russo British
diplomatic relations, the Russian note,
however, reiterating the Russian posi-
ton that resumption of diplomatic re-
lationS shall not be conditioned upon
prior assurances by Moscow as to propa-
ganda or as to debts.
The committee on political questions
of the Assembly 81 the League Of Ma
lions has adopted q report on mandates
in which complete confidence Is ex-
pressed In the British manner OF nan
ding the Palestinian difficulties.
The British government has informed
the government Of IraQ that 1t has de-
cided to recommend admission OF the
latter to membership in the League OF
Nations in 1892. This means the end
of the British mandate for Iraq and
presumably q new BritiSh-Iraqi treaty,
much on the lines Of the Anglo Egypt
ian treaty. recently proposed by the
British government; ie., no doubt. pro-
vision would be made for retention Of
British garrisons at strategic points in
Iraq, chiefly at Basera, which is vital
link In British communications, es-
pecially aerial. The British-Iraqi treaty
Of 1926 provided for continuance Of the
British mandate over Iraq until 1850
or until such time as Iraq should be
admitted to the League Of Nations"
r X X
SPAIN-It is expected that the Ma
tional Assembly will this Autumn act
upon the new constitution, the crea-
ton presumably under closest super
vision by the government) OF COM
mission selected from itself. As the
National Assembly Is the creation OF
elected body, 1t will no doubt approve.
The constitution will then be submitted
to a national referendum. II accepted
| by the people 1t will be promulgated by
royal decree. Meantime, presumably.
the dictator, Primo de Rivera, Will
carry on. Some say the national ref
| erendum will furnish a true indication
Of the wishes OF the people; some say
it will be a mendacious Formally. AS
| would be the case in most countries,
| the people will have little precise under
4
they will vote approval or disapprovai
of Primo de Rivera, the most amiable
and not the least intelligent of die
tatorS, one of the few dictators since
Julius Caesar characterized by humor-
GUS amenity.
| ITALY-The present full fiedged mem
berS Of the Fascist party total 100000
men and 90. 495 women. :.
The Fascist Grand Council has 81
members. It Is understood that MuSSo-
lini contemplates its reorganization SO
as to concentrate power more enec-
lively in a few hands. Hence forward
the chist secretary Of the Fascist party
is to be appointed by royal decree, and
| the other secretaries by decree OF the
premier. ~
sFascism," says the Duce, sis unique
and the only new thing that the hrst
| 80 years of this century have seen IN
the political as well as the social Held.
| How about bolshevisni, for example?
Moreover the cynics are apt TO md IN
bolshevism, which antedates FasciSm,
certain striking essential reSembiances
to Fascism; or the other way around, IL
| you please.
Let us hear the Duce again. "The
Fascist doctrine will eventually have 70
be adopted everywhere" This mas Cne
old Mussolinian ring, not so often
heard Of late.
The knights of Malta; few people
I suppose, are aware that the sovereign
order of the knights of Malta (orig-
inally, the knights of the Order o.
the Hospital of st. John OF jerusalem
still exists. Few institutions have hac
1 SO glorious history, whereof, per-
haps, the most superb episode was the
defeat In 1865 of great Turkish arma'
ment and its expulsion from Malta aftei
long siege OF the knights strong
y hold at Valletta, most dramatically re-
counted by our Prescott in his histor!
OF Philip II