Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15
PARIS AND ROME NOW VIE
FOR POWER In BALKANS
War Ever Near as Rival Imperialists Move
Political Pawns, Declares Wheeler
i'm Radio Forum.

time does not permit, but you will re-
member when King Zog made a trip
to Austria, an attempt was made upon
his life. If anything should happen to
the King of Albania, it is entirely
probable that because of her financial
and political interest in that country,
Italy would very probably want to land
troops in that little country to maintain
order ana protect-as we would say
the rights of property of our nationals.
If that situation should arise there, it
is a we'll known fact that Jugoslavia.
which is dominated by France, would
attempt to prevent the landing of the
Italian forces. There you would have
your conflict. JugoSlayia wants no
further penetration into the Balkans by
Italy. What the outcome would be, no
one could say. France would likely
come to the aid of Jugoslavia and then
another European conflict would result.
Thus you see you can use almost the
same language in speaking of France
and Italy as you formerly could of the
old Austria Hungary and Russian en-
pires. Each has its imperial ambitions
each of them has its proteges whom
they hope to use as the instrument of
their ambitions.
l repeat 13 years after a war to end
war and 2 years after the countries
of the world signed a treaty to outlaw
war, France and Italy and the countries
they dominate are armed to the teeth.
The countries of the world, including
the United States, are spending more
money on ornaments than ever before.
What a farce 1t must seem to the man
on the street upon whose back the
burden of taxation to keep up
ornaments must fall
l watched the various countries of
Europe vote at the Interparliamentary
Conference at Bucharest. You could lie
practically assured that as France voted
so voted Rumania, JugoSlavia, Poland,
Czechoslavakia and other countries m
her debt.
Hard to Understand.
1t is difficult for the people of the
United States to understand the politi-
cal Vaccinations of European poll
ticians. We see the Greek, the Turk,
the Armenian, the Russian, the German
and the Frenchman coming to this
country, living in peace with one an
other and then we see then transformed
into enemies when they go back. The
reason for it must be clear. 1t is be-
cause the countries are divided up into
small economic units with high-tarif
barriers, with politicians appealing to
their religious and racial prejudices,
and with the larger powers using the
smaller nations as mere pawns in the
selfish game they are playing.
1t seems to me no great progress can
come to Europe until there is genuine
disarmament; until the tariff barriers
are torn down and until one country
stops trying to dominate other coun-
tries because she temporarily has the
power to make vaSSal states out of some
of the countries in Europe.
I spoke few moments ago of France
and how she used her loans to control
smaller nations. There is, of course,
another reason why these nations do
the bidding of France. Aside from con-
Stantly needing money to support their
own armies, they realize that France not
only is the only country In Europe that
has. the gold to loan, but that it has
the most powerful army in all of Eu-
rope, if not in the world. With Ger
many disarned and broke, to what ma
ton could Poland and Rumania look
in case of war with Russia? The an
Swer is France.
France can say to Poland, unless you
vote with us at any political or economic
conference affecting either Europe or
the world. we will not support you in
your dispute with Germany over the
Polish Corridor. Likewise she can say
to Rumania, we will not support you in
your desire to keep the territory you
acquired from Russia at the peace table
at Versailles. As consequence of her
financial power, which she uses to con-
troll these smaller nations, and by
reason of her military prestige, France
can dominate Europe at every European
conference more completely than any
nation ever has in recent years.
While France has for the time being
Of AvHIy IN
Balkans but In all Europe, she cannot,
it seems to me. whether it be from fear
or from motives of utter self1shness,
afford to make vassal states out of all
European countries. If she attempts to
do SO, Germany and Central Europe
must collapse.
Praises 1880 Conference.
It would seem that the rulers of to-
day learn little from the history of the
past We don't like to turn back the
pages of history and read the gruesome
and sordid stories of selflshness and
greed on the part of the ruling classes
of the great empires that have grown
and grown and blossomed forth as the
great civilization of their time. only to
be destroyed because of that self same
Selfishness. And, if we do read it, we
say it cannot happen to us. hope not,
each civilization for the same reasons
greed, selfishness and graft on the part
of the ruling classes.
There is. however, a brighter side to
the Balkan situation.
In october, 1880, there was held in
Athens the first Balkan Conference
in which all the peoples of the Balkan
Peninsula were represented. You will
note that I say peoples" because the
government-perhaps fortunately or
unfortunately, had nothing to do with
the conference. This is more evidence
that the peoples of most countries are
more farseeing and peacefully inclined
than their governments At this con-
ference, delegates selected by response
BILE citizens in the various Balkan
states and without any control or con-
nection with the governments of those
states, gathered together to consider
the best means to bring about CO.
operation among the Balkan peoples
The stated aim of this conference
which it hopes some day to attain, is
the union of the Balkan states. The
slogan of the conference Is 1.-The Bal
kans for the Balkan peoples" This
| is a clear invitation to the larger
European powers to keep hands of
| that part of the world. The Balkan
peoples are awakening to the realiza-
| ton of the harm which they have Suf-
| tered in the past through the meddline
| of large powers in the affairs of the
| Peninsula. If the aims of the Balkan
! Conference are realized the Balkan
| peoples will unite and handle then
own affairs as they see fit without adj
vice from the great powers. This Is
an encouraging development and 1t /:
to be sincerely hoped that the aim:
and objects of this conference will be
realized.
Turkey Takes Lead.
| You NAV he interested to know that