Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-03
LOAN NEED
HELD TREATY spur
Repercussions on Economic
Situation in U. S. and Europe
Seen in Agreement.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The details of the Franco Italian
British naval agreement viii not be re-
ceived officially in Washington until
next Wednesday, the reason being that
eleventh-hour readjustments are neces-
sary to meet certain demands Of the
French admiralty. 1t is considered In
official quarters here, however, that
these readjustments are Of minor i'm
portance and cannot in any way inter-
fere with the agreement, which will
definitely bring France and Italy into
the London naval treaty and make
that treaty one of the outstanding in
struments for the sterilization Of
Europe.
Odicial quarters In Washington are
full of praise for the great diplomatic
skill of British Foreign Secretary Ar
thur Henderson and for the statesman
like wisdom shown by Benito Mus
solini and Aristide BRAND. Their
wisdom and pacific spirit have helped
solve what was considered an impossi-
bic situation, it Is agreed.
But, although President Hoover. Sec
rotary of State Henry L. Stimson and
Ambassador Hugh Gibson have APP
parently been inactive in these negotia-
tons since the middle of December,
1880, they deserve a good deal Of
credit for the happy ending Of the
Italian-French naval antagonism. The
broad outline Of the Franco-Italian
agreement was suggested to the French
nd fa1f krT - wv
Stimson through Ambassador Gibson
early in December, last year.
Corner Stone Laid by Hoover.
The French and Italian naval ex-
perts, left to themselves, could not, how
ever, agree, and, 1t is stated, would not
have agreed even now had the British
secretary of state not taken the matter
in mis- own hands and dealt with Sig.
Mussolini and M. BRAND directly. In
doing this, he changed the aspect of
the problem from purely technical
into a political one.
Nevertheless, the corner stone of the
new understanding was laid by Pres
ident Hoover, Secretary Stimson and
Ambassador Gibson.
To the American Government, how
ever, the question as to who is reSpon-
sible for the change in the attitude of
the French and Italian government Is
of no consequence. The main thing Is
that an agreement has been reached
and it Is hoped here that the agreement
may have far-reaching consequences in
Europe and the United States.
1t is believed in ofhcial quarters here
that the Franco Italian agreement viii
have an immediate repercussion on the
political problems between France and
Italy. These are the questions of the
nationality Of Italian citizens living in
Tunis, which is a French protectorate,
and Of Italian colonial expansion in
Northern Africa toward Lake Chad.
Arms Farley Hopes Brighter.
Both these problems appeared hope
less as long as the annual controversy
between France and Italy existed. Con-
versations between the two governments
were proceeding in friendly manner
until the Franco-Italian antagonism be-
came apparent during the London Naval
Conference. 1t is expected here that
both governments will now resume their
friendly conversations and reach an
agreement before long.
II the French and Italian govern
ment5 are able to reach an agreement
as they have done over the more COM
pick naval question, the prospects Of
the coming general disarmament con-
ference will be much brighter than this
administration ever anticipated. 1t Is
possible that President Hoover may be
induced to take a more active part in
the coming international negotiations
than would have been the case had the
French and the Italians not reached a
naval agreement.
But while these political aspects of
the Franco-Italian understanding are
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