Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-25
EUROPE FEELS MUSSOLINI
I SPEECHES MENACE PEACE
sword-Rattling Regarded as Tending
to Intensity Belligerent Spirit
of Italian People.

Is the determined desire on the part OF
Fascist Italy to secure from France the
satisfaction of certain important politi-
cal claims, principally In North Africa.
And still further back is that will to
power which Italy under Fascist rule
manifests In overlooking measure.
When Mussolini said his esthetic
sense was stimulated more by machine
guns than by words, he probably was
thinking but little of war for wars
sake. He did undoubtedly desire to
imply the belief, which is age old that
a nation prepared to fight-even in this
day-has much more chance of achiev-
ing its diplomatic ends than nation
armed only with just cause.
Building Formidable Machine.
1t Is fairly safe to say that this view
of the relative esthetic value of ma
chine guns and words still obtains
among many French statesmen, even
though given expression by them in less
blunt phrases. As to whether Italy Is
actually arming or merely providing a
false military display there can be lit
tie doubt. Despite the somewhat deli
cate economic situation at home, Musso-
lint Is in course of making italy as for
midable a military and naval machine
as 1t Is In his power to do. Whether
the machine Is to be brought into action
is another question. From the Fascist
viewpoint the refusal of France at Lon
don to grant theoretical naval parity
which Italy demanded was of but Sec
ondary Importance.
Italy came forth from the London
Conference in a strong, strategic po-
sition, and she Is now prepared to 60
forward with her new naval program
ships recently authorized will be built
ton for ton. Mussolini said at Florence.
Italy's move for satisfaction in North
Africa Is as much the result Of q de-
sire for expansion as It IS Of the need
for expansion.
The number Of births In Italy each
year still far surpasseS the number of
deaths, and the Fascist government Is
making every effort to continue that
state of affairs-through the granting
of special privileges to large families
and other like means
Under the Fascist theory, however.
the Italian race must not only continue
to multiply; 1t must maintain itself
intact. Thus the governmental bars to
emigration are raised and efforts to find
suitable colonial space are pushed for
ward. When the worlds colonial pie
was cut Italy was not at the table, and
when she finally arrived she found little
left but crumbs. Latterly, Britain has
made some substantial colonial conces-
sions to. Italy but France has limited
herself to giving over narrow strip OF
desert in Western Libya.
Chief Quarrel Is In Tunis.
Large areas in Southern Libya, which
are now occupied by France, are still
claimed by Italy. but Rome's chief quar-
rel with Paris Is in Tunis. The seizure
Of Tlnis by France In 1881 drove Italy
into triple alliance with Austria and
Germany, and despite realignment of
the powers which the World War
brought about, the Tunisian problem
persists. There were more Italians than
Frenchmen in Tunis In 1881, and the
same is true today, though the proper
ton Of Italians in the population has
decreased.
To summarize the complicated stua-
ton, France desires to denationalize
Italian residents. while Italy insists these
must be permitted to remain Italians.
Rome asks q guarantee to this effect.
The question Is still open, and should
France take O decisive step In oppose
ton to the italian view, q serious situa-
ton would be created.
Besides the colonial question there Is
the problem Of conflicting friendships
and alliances in the Balkans, involving.
notably. Albania and Jugoslavia. Taken
together, FTanco-Italian relations deserve
as close watching as does any other
problem in Europe.
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