Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-03
Disarmament at Geneva,

Geneva OF the effort to pave the way
of a general world disarmament con-
ference affecting the land, the sea and
the air. The League of Nations Pre-
paratory Commission" is the agency
which is charged with this battling
task. Though the United States is out
side the League, we are not detached
from the high purpose Of Geneva on
this or any other occasion making for
international good. Hence, the re-
appearance at the Preparatory Com
mission session beginning November 6
Of Ambassador Gibson at the head of
an American delegation.
En- route to the meeting Mr. Gibson
has been visiting Paris and Rome. His
we'll understood, though technically I'M
official, mission was to explore the pos
sibility of bringing France and Italy to-
gether on naval affairs. The Paris and
Rome governments themselves have car
ried on intermittent negotiations ever
since their failure to join the London
agreement concluded by Great Britain,
the United States and Japan.
Italy demands parity with France.
France declines to grant 1t. Mussolini
has proposed compromises. Tardieu was
not impressed by them. The Italians
indicated a readiness to accept "theo-
retical parity''-ie., an acknowledgment
by the French merely of Italy's right
to build up to French strength at sea.
Paris has not reacted favorably to that
suggestion, either.
It is easy to conceive why French
public opinion, to which any Paris gov
eminent must at all times be respon-
sive, does not incline toward any sort Of
naval concessions to Italy, in view Of
Signor Mussolini's most recent orator.
ical exhibition. II Duce spoke very i'm
pressive at Rome on October 81 Of
Ita1y's passion for peace, but in the
same breath the Fascist chieftain dis
cussed expansion to the east" all "alli-
ances" Italy is making in that direc-
ton and the superiority Of cannon over
fine words
In his address to the Fascist leaders
Mussolini also referred to the warlike
preparations on a certain frontier,
which could only be the Franco-Italian
border. The point in all this Is that as
long as France and Italy mutually con-
tinue to enact the role Of the pot call
ing the kettle black, the prospect Of
persuading them to agree on navies re-
! mains q dubious one. Until there Is
European naval limitation, military
limitation is hardly practicable.
Jugoslavia is becoming as much Of o
Franco-Italian problem as Franco
Italian questions themselves. The Serb
Kingdom is a military ally Of France.
Jugoslavian territory lies athwart
Italy's path of expansion to the east"
The French see Mussolini slowly but
steadily drawing a ring around Jugo-
slavia, q modern exemplar Of the
gspolitik"-policy of en-
circlement-of which prewar Germany
protested it was the victim.
The links In the alleged ring around
Jugoslavia include the Italo-Austrian
treaty, the 1talo- Hungarian treaty, the
Italo- Bulgarian royal marriage al
lance, the Bulgaro- Turkish treaty Of
alliance, the Bulgaro- Hungarian treaty
of alliance and the pending negotia-
tons for a eco-Turkish alliance
Mussolini's hand, Of course, is not d.
rectly at work in all these political
arrangements. But, according to nerv-
Gus Central European authorities, they
dovetan viSibly onto Italian expansion
plans in the direction Of the battle
SCARED Balkans. They plainly have in
view that revision of the postwar map
Of Europe, which II Duce and others
espouse. It Is in Balkan territory,
many observers are coming to believe.
that France and Italy are destined to
clash.
If American diplomacy can induce
France and Italy, amid their clashing
plans and commitments in Eastern
Europe. to say nothing of Northern
Africa, to bury the naval Ratchet 1t
will be monumental achievement for