The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-10
GRAND|'S VISIT
FULL OF PERIL
FOR AMERICA
France, Hostile to Italy,
to Watch Talks With
Hoover Closely.
TWO SUBJECTS PITFALLS
Disarmament and Revision
of Treaties Food for
Trouble.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
scripps Howard Foreign Editor


WASHINGTON, Nov. TO- Pit
falls and perils without end await
the conversations between President
Hoover and Dino Grandi, Italian
foreign minister, here next week.
Italy has been clashing danger
Ously with France and Frances
allies, and openly siding with
Frances ex-enemies ever since the
World war. The slightest misstep,
therefore, on the part of American
diplomacy during the Italian states
mans stay, might have disastrous
consequences.
To make the situation all the
more delicate, the two principal
questions to be discussed here are
disarmament and the stability OF
central Europe; in other words, re-
vision Of the peace treaties, includ-
ing the treaty of Versailles.
Already, therefore, both Paris and
Berlin are watching Washington for
any straws which they may happen
to see blowing their way-or in the
opposite direction.
Italy's handsome, black bearded
foreign minister, it is known, will
speak for Mussolini. and MusSolini
never has sought to conceal his
views on any subject that has come
up for discussion, least of all on
disarmament and treaty revision.
He is for both.
Ready TO Disarm
Signor Grandi will tell President
Hoover that Italy stands ready to
disarm down to 10000 men, or any
other number, however small, pro-
viding the rest of the powers Will
do the same.
This may sound reasonable
enough to the average American,
but to the French it is a direct
challenge. To them, it is an Italian
demand for equality on land and
sea with France, something France
steadfastly refuses to grant.
The Franco Italian feud came into
the open during the Washington
conference in 1921. In 1927, both
Italy and France stayed away from
the Geneva naval conference be-
cause they we're hopelessly at log
gerheads. And last year, at Lon
don, Italys demand for naval
equality, and Frances refusal to en-
terrain the idea, all but wrecked
the conference. A three, instead OF
five-power pact finally was signed.
Look to Conference
Now comes the world disarma-
ment conference of February, 1882.
1t is only a little more than three
months off. President Hoover and
the world are pinning great hopes
on its success although instead OF
only five powers, the whole world
will be present, and instead OF naval
tonnages, all kinds of war machln-
ery. land, sea and air, will be uI
for reduction and limitation.
Not only are Italy and France al
odds on the question Of ornaments
but, to Frances way of thinking
Premier MusSolini has been undulS
provocative in his speeches advocat-
ING revision of the war treaties. He
has sided with Germany and the
central European powers as against
France, Poland, Jugoslavia and bel
other allies.
When French Premier Laval was
President Hoover'S guest, Senator
Borah. chairman of the foreign re-
lations committee, nearly upset the
applicant by telling French CORE
spondents that the peace of Europe
is impossible until the Polish corri-
dor and other war treaty injustlces
are rectif1ed.
Represents Opinion
This opinion may be said to rep
resent a large body of official opin-
ion here. And while treaty revision
was not pressed on Premier Laval
washington still regards European
politics as none of its business
France will watch the Grandi-Hoo-
yer conversations like Hawk for
any undiplomatic or unduly sympa-
thetic expressions on that score.
1t is the handling of these prob
lens, therefore, which will command
greatest attention abroad. For or
the other principal items to be dis
cussed-world economic co-opera-
ton. maintenance of the gold stand
ard. reparations and war debts-tht
principal European powers anc