Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15
CRANDI AND HOOVER SEEK
TO AVERT ARMS FIASCO
Best Way to Prevent Breakdown at
Geneva Will Be Discussed-Pact
Revision Issue to Come Up.

! JugOSlaVla. because JnaJ nation Is
more warlike and has less responsibility
than France. Several incidents have &C.
Cured in the last five years between
Italy and her eastern neighbor and had
the Italian nation not been fully pre-
pared to meet any emergency the
Italian diplomats believe. Italy would
have been in an extremely disagree
able position.
Hard Hit by Depression.
The world depression has hit Italy
hard. Her sources of income are
dwindling, her business is suffering, and
to maintain her forces at the present
level she would have to make an effort
which she can i'll afford. especially
when there are so many ways of using
the money she is spending on her
armed forces in a more constructive
manner.
Hence. when President Hoover
laSnched his idea of world disarma-
ment, Italy accepted it with sincere
enthusiasm. The little response the
Presidents suggestion has found in
France ana her allied countries is wor-
rying the Italians. II Duce watched
closely the results of Premier Laval's
visit and when the reports from Wash
ington and Paris indicated the con-
verSations between President Hoover
armament had been negative, he de-
cided that an understanding between
Italy and the United States might pos
Sibly have salutary effect next Feb
ruary at Geneva. Dino Grandi will talk
at length with Mr. Hoover and Mr..
Stimson about the best way to avoid
breakdown at Geneva in the Spring.
Neither of them believe they alone,
even If supported by Germany, can
he aaY,f
success. But common plan of action
might save it from a complete fiasco
The question whether any reduction
can be achieved by budgetary limita
lions or by reducing electives is still
an open one between the two gov
ernments. But this is merely ques-
ton of expediency; the main thing Is
to get together and outline a general
common policy. Considering that thr
principle of disarmament is accepted by
both governments an understanding as
to the means to achieve it is more than
probable.
Revision to Be Taken Up.
In connection with the question Of
general disarmament, the leaders OF
both countries will undoubtedly discuss
the question of the possible revision of
peace treaties, including the treaty of
Versailles. The Italians recognize that
at the signature of various treaties at
the end of the war certain inevitable
injusticeS and mistakes were made
These political mistakes have a direct
bearing on the present unsettled situa-
ton of Europe and it is the firm belief
of II Duce that unless certain changes
are made in Europes map it would
be useless to talk about permanent
peace in Europe.
Italy is one of the signatories of the
treaty of Versailles and as such can
speak of its revision with certain
amount of authority.
Italy is also one of the countries
which have acquired new territories
from Austria at the end of the war.
1t would appear consequently that by
reopening the question of revision of
position of having the Austrians claim
the South Tirol, thickly populated by
German speaking race.
Signor MuSSolini seems to have no
apprehension about this. While ma
tionally the South Tirol may be con-
sidered German, from the geographical
point of view, it is claimed to be Italian.
According to the Italian theory, that
section of Italy had been colonized with
Germans at the time when Italy was
part of the Hcly Roman Empire, but the
territory itself is as much Italian as
Venice or Lombardy. These geographic
and photographic questions can be
argued either way at a conference. The
principal reason why the Italians do
not seem to fear a reopening of the
South Tirol question must be found
in Signor Grandis visit to Berlin,
previous to his coming to the United
States. A discussion of the revision of
certain frontiers in Europe, mainly OF
those which separate Germany from
her eastern provinces, is bound to be
platonic. The United States has not
signed the Versailles treaty and con-
seuuently can indulge merely in an
academic discussion of that question.
This is purely a European matter and
while the administration would be glad
to see an equitable solution CT this en-
tire problem, it cannot take an active
part in its discussion.
The questions of the downward seal
ing of the German Preparations and the
corresponding reductions of the Euro
pean debts, the question of the main
tenance of the gold standard in Italy
and that Of economic cooperation will
naturally be discussed by President
Hoover, Secretary Stimson and their
guest. but all these matters, important
as they are, will be only incidental and
occupy a second position compared
with the question of disarmament and
the liquidation of Europe's political
problems.