Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04
By RAYMOND LESLIE BUELL.,

rope. Such a system was one
Of the causes of the World War; unless
It is scotched, such system will be the
cause of a war in the future.
The peace treaties of 1890 divided
Europe (outside of Russia) into two
carnps-the camp of the victorious al
lies, led by France, and the camp Of
the defeated powers-consisting of Ger
many, Austria. Hungary, Bulgaria and
Turkey. Within the camp of the de-
feated powers, the demand for re-
vision Of the peace treaties has become
more and more vocal
What is more, the past unity of the
allied camp has disappeared. AS early
as 1928 Fascist Italy deserted the status
quo program of France and came out
for a revision of the Hungarian from
tiers In his famous speech of october
a., 1880, Mussolini declared: "Our pol
ICY of revision of the treaties
aims at avoiding war. The revision of
the peace treaties is not prevatlingly OF
Italian interest, but interests the whole
world"
Says italy Acts in SeIf-Interest.
Nevertheless, in joining hands with
Germany and Hungary, Italy is acting
In self interest Italy wishes more ter
ritory for It's surplus population; she
demands a position Of equality with
France-she demands that the French
hegemony over Europe come to an end.
Prompted by such motives, Italy
made a treaty of arbitration and con-
citation with Germany in December,
1926, and a similar agreement with
Hungary in April, 1927. In May, 1928.
Italy buried the historic differences with
Turkey in treaty of neutrality and
Cancellation.
The fact that the Austrian Tyrol had
been coded to Italy in the peace treaties
for a time was an obstacle to an agree
ulent with Austria. But with the adj
vent of Herr Schober as head of the
Austrian government in September,
1929, and the growth of Fascist senti-
ment in Austria, there has been an i'm
provement in Italo-Austrain relations.
In February, 1890, treaty of friendship
and arbitration between these govern
ments was signed at Rome.
The marriage last October of Princess
Giovanni, daughter of the King and
Queen of Italy. to King Boris III of Bull
garia was obviously Of diplomatic i'm
portance. This agreement may pave
the way for political understanding
between Italy and the last of the de-
feated powers.
SO far as the published terms reveal,
italy has not actually concluded any
military alliance with these powers.
Nevertheless, public utterances have
been made which indicate that these
agreements have been concluded for a
common political purpose, and France
and her allies suspect that they are
accompanied by secret terms providing
for reciprocal military aid.
While this shift in Italian policy away
from the allies and toward the former
Central Powers has been confined so
far largely TO words, nevertheless, a
shift has taken place which threatens
20 disturb the equilibrium of Europe
established In 1919.
A second power to cast its weight on
the side Of the defeated powers has
been Soviet Russia. AS early as 1925
this government concluded a treaty of
neutrality and non-aggressi0n with
Turkey. Last September DR.. Tewhk
Rushdi Bey foreign minister of Turkey,
visited Moscow. where he was given an
imposing reception Today Turkey
while remaining outside the League Of
Nations, Is Joined by treaty TO Soviet
Russia and Fascist Italy.
Especially since the conclusion of the
neutrality treaty with Hungary in jan
uary, 1929, Turkey and Hungary, ra
cialiy related powers, have been on cor
dial terms. And the recent visit OF
Count Bethlen, prime minister of Hun
gary to Angora, has been regarded by
some observers as the first step in the
reconciliation Of Communist Hun
gary with Moscow.
At the preparatory commission for
disarmament at Geneva the Soviet dele
gate, NJ Litvinoff, has repeatedly sup
ported the German thesis OF immediate
disarmament policy which has led
French critics to suspect a German
Russian understanding. And in the
midst Of the last session Of the pre-
paratorv commission, NJ. Lityinoh sud-
IDENTIFY departed for Milan. where he en-
gagged in secret conversations with NJ.
Grand, the Italian minister for foreign
affairs.
Following this interview, the Popolo
d'Italia declared that the "Specter OF
an Italian-German-R Russian bloc has
arisen with an imposing reality" To
this bloc may be added Greece
Turkish Bulgar-Magyar group. The
union Of the 3o0.000,000 individuals
living under these seven governments
~would give serious cause for thought
20 badly tntentioned persons"
Paris Fears Oriental Bloc.
II is significant that neither Germany
nor italy has Joined the outcry against
the so-called dumping policy of the
soviet government. The fear of an
sOriental alliance" consisting Of the
three great powers of Russia, Italy and
Germany, together with lesser powers
In the Balkans, Is now haunting cer-
tain circles in France.
II this Oriental bloc comes into
existence. it will be due in a sense TO
Hhe policy Of the French government.
For il was France which took the lead
At the conclusion of the World War
IN resurrecttng the alliance system. II
was the hope OF the authors OF the
covenant that the League Of Nations
conference system would displace the
discredited principle OF balance OF
power. .-,
between nations should be settled upon
their merits; nations should trust tnelr
security TO arbitration and TO sane
tons enforced by the world against an
aggressor state. But the withdrawal
OF the United States from Europe ana
the fact that the League was only
coming into existence, together with
other factors. led France to revive the
alliance system.
The peace treaties gave France many
territorial and financial advantages
which she believed could be maintained
only by a policy Of force. In Septem-
Der. 1920 France made a. military al
lance with Belgium: In February, 1921,
she made q similar alliance WITH
Poland.
Meanwhile the states OF Central
Europe. Czechoslovakia, Rumania and
.JugosIavia. had entered into series OF
agreements establishing the little en-
fnnte. The purpose of this entente was
TO prevent the return of the Haps-
burgs to Hungary and any forceful
alteration in the Central European
peace settlement.
The interests OF the little entente
and of France in maintaining the
status quo established at Versailles
were identical, and France quickly
took the little entente under its wing.
In June, 1924, France signed an al
-I-rrr.