Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-16
Sigror Grandi in Washington.

Washington is honored TO nave the
opportunity Of welcoming Signor Dino
Grand, foreign minister OF Italy, who
has arrived In the United States for a
series Of conferences with President
Hoover and Secretary Stimscn.
His visit follows by a few weeks the
soiourn of French Premier Laval and
pursues that policy of face-to-face con-
facts between European and American
statesmen which set in with British
Prime Minister MacDonaldS famous
presence here two years ago. From the
conversations held by Messrs. Laval and
Macdonald in Washington, important
results flowed. There is every reason
to hope that Signor Grandi's stay in
our midst will prove equally fruitful,
even If there are pending between Italy
and the United States no questions OF
Immediately serious interest.
Benito Mussolini's youthful lieutenant
will command Americas attention not
only on his own account, but because OF
the government for which Signor Grand
speaks. Fascist Italy is in effect an
autocracy conducted under a one-man
dictatorship. 1t has just entered upon
its tenth year of existence. Time has
visibly mellowed the worlds opinion OF
the Mussolini regime. Upon Italy itself
Fascism has exercised an influence that
can only be described as wholesome,
even though black shirt authority is not
uncomplainingly accepted throughout
the nation. That the position OF Italy
as an international power is vastly en-
HANGED as the result of Mussolini's
strongly nationalist policy cannot be
challenged. Into his whole people has
been infused a spirit of Italianism, the
absence Of which, before the march on
Rome, was the spark that set Fascism
triumphantly alight.
Signor Grand comes to us as a
splendid incarnation of the Italy OF
Mussolini. Since Pitt, no European
statesman so young has presided over
the foreign affairs Of leading country.
Still well on the sunny side of forty,
Signor Grandi stands in the forefront
of all the questions clamorin1 for So
luton, if Europe's peace is not again
to be shattered as it was in 1914. Italy's
gifted emissary may not find the United
States in mood to 60 along with some
of Mussolinis panaceas for readjusting
the situation in the Old World. Ger
tainly, American support of his plan
for revision of the war treaties is a
field into which this Government and
people are not minded to venture. The
pledge to NJ. Laval that the United
States locks upon the Young plan as
the existing economic law Of Europe,
under which alone relief and remedy
may be sought, is of too recent origin
to justify any expectation on Italy's
part Of our readiness to support whole
sale revisionary projects.
Signor Grandi has himself played
OF disarmament. He is the author Of
the one-ycar holiday in naval construc-
ton which has just come into force
and which he conceived as likely to
create a favorable psychological at
mosphere" for the Geneva Confer
ence. The eagerness of Italy for prog
ress n the realm of disarmament
is fully shared by the American Gov
eminent. In espousing it at Wash
ington. Signor Grandi will find him
self standing on common ground with
President Hoover and the others who
speak for the American people.
1t is pleasing to know that the whole
country, through the magic of radio,
will be privileged to hear the Italian
minister's own voice. The microphone
is faithful transmitter of personality.
That assures the millions of our citi-
zens. who will hear Signor Grand
speak-in English, which he uses flu
ently--the opportunity of acquainting
themselves with an uncommonly
charming individuality, a world states
man Of vision, and the responsible ex-
ponent Of one of the most remark
able experiments in government which
mankind has ever known.