Evening star., 1933-08-06
GERMAN REVOLUTION HAS
REALiCNED ALL OF EUROPE
Rise of Hitler Has Given Mussolini
Chance for Leadership and Italy !,
Has Risen in Presti &c. y

portion of the lost territories which
holds Magyar majorities that has pre-
vailed ever since the making of the
treaty of Trianon. But resolution to
achieve revision in Budapest is not more
determined than will to prevent 1t in
Bucharest, Belgrade and Prague.
That is the one card left in German
hands. For the moment the Nails have
lost Austria and find themselves face
to face with italian opposition. But il
Hungary refuses to play part in the
new Franco-Italian project-aSSuming
that this project really comes to
maturity-then there is small chance for
any lasting success. Geographically
Hungary is in the center of the whole
area and therefore no plan can work
that does not have Magyar participa-
ton.
What really remains to be seen is
whether MuSsolini can win Hungary to
the new project. Alone of the former
enemies. Italy has pursued pro-
Hungarian policy from the close OF the
war and Is consequently popular in
Budapest. Moreover, there have been
economic agreements which have proved
profitable for the Hungarians. All of
these things count, but it may well be
doubted whether they count heavily
enough if no program of territorial
revision accompanies them
OF cource, if Hungary should decide
to join a Danubian combination also
containing Austria and the little en-
tente and backed by France and Italy.
then it is obvious that the German way
down the Danube would be effectively
blocked and at the same time economic
recovery might take place. Neverthe-
less the great weakness of the scheme
lies IN the fact that neither Italy nor
Austria and Slovakia as we'll, can supply
an adequate market for the agrarian
production Of Hungary, Yugoslavia and
Rumania. Here the German advantage
is plain. What can be had conceivably
Is further financial aid from France and
certain increase in markets in Italy
and CZechoslovakia.
In any event what is now taking
place constitutes one of the most in
teresting Of recent DEVELOPMENTS in
European affairs. It can lead to con-
solidation Of the Danubian states and
period OF tranquility and even OF CO.
operation in Franco-Italian operations.
1t can on the other hand lead to a
new check as all other similar projects
have led in the past IA years. But a
check would constitute a German vic
tory and would almost certainly pref
ace union of Austria and Germany
and a return Of Hungary to the Ger
man orientation
Italo- German Rivalry.
Before all that happened a new war
would almost certainly take place, for
Poland, the little entente, Italy and
France are all to a greater or less ex-
tent concerned in blocking German
ambition and for several Of these ma
tlons it is question Of life or death
If the project carries, Germany-the
Hitlerized Germany of the Nazis-Will
be more completely isolated than any
considerable European state in the past
generation for Britain will certainly
lend her moral support to the coali-
ton. But while such a development
would plainly render Germany helpless
for all present time it would not mean
more than a truce and that truce
might at any time be broken by des-
perate National-Socialist dictatorship
faced with the alternative of foreign
war or domestic collapse
What IS interesting to note Is that
the rise Of Hitler has given Mussolini
the chance he has long sought and
Italy the place she has coveted for an
even longer time. The Duce is now the
most conspicuous and perhaps the most
Italy is playing the role of great
power beyond denial And Hitler is
now Mussolini's obvious rival on the
political stage as Germany is now the
challenger of Italy as the model for the
future All of which has created no
little comment and more than passing
satisfaction in Paris. So far French
policy seems to have envisaged paying
the price of recognition of the prestige
alike Of the Duce and of his country
as cheaper thing than fresh loans to
nations Of the little entente in return
for new opposition to italian policy.
But always there is one caution to
be cited in the case Of the Fascist pol
icy 1t is purely opportunist and prag-
matte. 1t changes with the transfor-
nation in circumstances and its basic
conception is to extract profit from the
role of the decisive element in bal
ance of power system. Thus too broad
and optimistic conclusions from pres
ent events can lead to disappointment
for with Mussolini every hand of cards
distributed constitutes a new deal and
every partnership is limited to the
hand actually being played.
tCopyright, 1880