New Britain herald., 1930-04-09

HOWeTS agree Tn pTlHClple that Italy may claim some equitable compen- sation. particularly as regards the settlement in her favour of the questions relative to the frontiers of the Italian colonies of Eritrea, Soma liland and Libya, and the neighbor- ing colonies belonging to France and Great Britain"
 At the Paris Peace Conference Italy demanded her compensation in territory under this clause of the treaty. The colonial settlement Italy received, however, is viewed in Italy as only partially fulfilling the pro- visions of the treaty which brought her into the war. Great Britain, it is conceded, has fulfilled her obli- gations under the treaty, mot mag nificently, indeed, but sufficiently The sessions made to Italy by France, however, are in no way re- garded as adequate or compensatory for the sacrifices in men and money made by Italy on behalf of the French cause.
 France rectified the western frontier of Libya, and adjusted two controversial points with regard to Italians in Tunis. Great Britain, con- cluding an agreement with Italy in 1924, ceded Jubaland and the port of kismayou, both in Africa.
 With this dissa tisfaction in the background, Italy entered the Lon don Naval Conference intent upon permitting France to obtain no ad- ditional advantage. It is the diplo- matic contention surrounding Italy and France that has prevented the Conference from ensuing with a five power pact, as had been hoped: and when France talks of security she has Italy in mind for the most part.
 Imperia lisn has been deeply root ed in the conversations. The African 773,O00 square miles and a popula- tion of S5,000,00O; the Italian colonies in Africa comprise only 7S0,OOO square miles and a popula- ton of less than 100000. In addi- tion, France has rich colonies else- sea highway needed to reach them. 1 The Mediterranean is equally a sea highway bet Great Britain and ! some of her richest colonies. But that is only part of the pie turc. France wishes to possess ,. navy in the Mediterranean which could maintain an open road for the transportatio of native troops to France in an emergency. If Italian naval power in the Mediterranean is equal to that of France there might be difficulty in doing this in case of war in which the two nations would be opposed.
 On the, other hand. if Mediter- ranean naval power does not break even for Italy, then she is at the mercy of France in such a con- tngency, being forced to import wheat, coal and other articles in or der 10 maintain it's population.
 Of what value is three power naval pact if it is 10 be predicat ted 1 upon the relative strength of the navies of France and Italy? Suppose, for instance, France and 1 Italy engage in a naval building race" Such a contingency would 1 force Great Britain to take notice and she would immediately build more ships to keep herself sufficie at ly ahead of France; and Japan and | the United States, in naval league with Britain, would be compelled to
 do likewise to keep up the ratio be- tween themselves and England. 1 If the Naval Conference fails to
 latch a five power pact it will have 1 failed of it's real objectives and will
 be a disappointment to millions Of
 well-wishers outside of Italy and 1 France.
 There will be nothing approaching
 actual limitation in a three power 1 pact so long as Italy and. France are