Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01
FRANCOITALIAN TENSION
GROWS AS Ill DUCE SPEAKS
Speeches in Northern Italy Create Anx-
iety Throughout Europe, Despite
Improbability of War.

| Of friendship and arbitration was on
| the point of signature last Spring, when,
with the Labor victory in the British
| elections, the Italians suddenly rejected
the French proposals and asked all the
territory from Lydia southwark to Lake
| Tchab and then limited their demands
to the Djubbo plus 10000 square kilo-
meters G5,625 square miles, of ada
, cent territory.
The French considered that MuSSolini
was specializing on a rupture of the
Franco-BritiSh entente, which, indeed
occurred soon afterward, and so re-
fused
Then came the London Naval Con-
ference and the Italian demand for
parity with France. 1t was understood
in London that when the conference
ended the French and Italians would
as soon as possible reopen negotiations
under British auspices with view to
attaining a full five-power treaty. At
Geneva last month the Italians wanted
to talk navies again Immediately, and
the British suggested a committee of
French, Italian and British experts, but
the French declared that they would
only talk navies after political ques-
tons were settled and that they would
discuss these not under British aus
pices, but only through regular diplo-
matte channels.
I am able to state now that as a
result Of MussoliniS speeches, which the
French interpret as an attempt at in
ttmidation, they will refuse for the pres
ent to negotiate with Italy even po-
litical questions Thus all chances of
a Franco-Italian settlement and the
completion of the London naval treaty
have disappeared into the indefinite fu-
ture.
Increasing Naval Armament.
Nor is this all. Italy is building 40, 900
tons Of new warships during the current
years. 1t is amalgamating the Fascist
militia and the regular army to total
Of more than $4,000 men. 1t is re-
doubling its diplomatic activity in Ger
many, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey
and strengthening its naval bases in
Sardinia and Sicily and other vital
points. 1t has already fortified the
French frontier.
France, as announced exclusively in
these dispatches, is preparing to build
$4,000 tons of warshipS as a reply to
Italy's 10000. The army, which has
been reduced to 100000 men, will, 1t Is
rumored, be increased to 5000. The
italian frontier is being fortified.
The naval bases at Corsica and North
Africa are being strengthened, it Is said,
and there is talk Of developing big
has Just conducted maneuvers, with
landing operations, between Toulon and
Corsica in the presence of high army
and navy officials.
Chief Of Staff Gen. Maxine Weygand
is reported to be visiting Nice, while
the minister of war has been inspecting
the Notifications at Toulon and in AL
geria.
And almost at the same time that
Italian Minister Guiratti vas explain
ing in a speech that Italy was not pa
cifist on the present territorial basis,
former French Minister Louis Loucheur
was proclaiming In Belgrade his ad-
miration for the Jugoslav army.
Difficulty With JugosIavia.
This last point is perhaps partic-
ularly significant, for even now NOBODY
expects to see Italy make direct
attack on France any more than France
would dream of attacking Italy. But
France has already had difficulty in
persuading its ally, Jugoslavia, to &C
cent passively the arrangement made
few years ago whereby Albania, on
Jugoslavia's flank, became virtually an
Italian protectorate. If there should De
a political revolt in Albania and Italy
should land troops to defend the regime,
which is always possibility, Jugoslavla
and Italy might be involved in real
conflict.
A year ago France in this case might
have remained neutral, for French
opinion was hostile to far-of commit
ments, but now there is a possibility
that France, too, might be involved.
Herein lies the real danger, European
statesmen tend to believe.
And not Europeans alone. The Asahi
Shibun of Toxic, one of the leading
japanese newspapers, shares this view
in a recent editorial. And an indie
pendent American observer who heard
one Of Mussolini's recent speeches re-
ports that when a voice in the crowd
cried, "Dalmatia is ours!" II Duce
turned and said impressively, Thou
hast spoken we'll"
Copyright, 1930)