Evening star., 1934-03-15
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS. K.B. E.

BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS. X. b. Z.
ROME. March Is (By Radio As
many times before in history, the
Eternal City dominates the political
situation in Europe, and Mussolini is
the master mind whose policy is pull
ing all the strings. Rome is the
center Of the stage in this drama
which has war or peace for its plot
The present visit of Chancellor
DollfusS of Austria and Prime Min
iSter Goemboes of Hungary is an
historical event which will have i'm
portant consequences for the whole
of Europe.
In official circles here in Rome
there is a studied pretence that this
conference OF Italy. Austria and
Hungary has no further object than
to promote an economic understand
ing among the Danubian powers.
That is part Of the program of MussO-
lini, whose acute mind is conscious
Of the hopeless condition of commerce
in Central Europe so long as these
states are divided by customs bar
riers and other forms Of economic
hostility
But in spite of the general chorus
in the Italian press, dictated by
orders from the highest quarter
everybody who knows anything of
what IS happening behind the scenes
is perfectly aware that this confer
ence IS deeply political in significance
Jigsaw Puzzle Remains.
Strange things are happening in
Europe Immense forces are moving
below the surface of troubled peace
The political pattern. which was die
tated and upheld by France IN the
years after the war. is shifting and
the nations are rearranging them
selves in new kind of Jigsaw puzzle.
according as they are attracted bE
italy or by Germany 1t is too soon
vet to say what the new picture VIII
be Everything Is shifting - these
forces Of attraction and counter
attraction-and the JgSaw puzzle is
still a puzzle
Bat the policy Of Mussolini.. that
man Of a subtle and far-seelng mind.
Is moving these pieces on the board
and trying to form the new pattern
1t was his mmG-nO Austrian doubts
lt-which dictated the attack on the
social democratic stronghCldS II
Vienna That was his condition upon
which he supported Do.ltuss and the
present Austrian government as l
was told a score of times IN Vienna
and Budapest,
It was Mussolini'S inSiStenCe and
his leadership which led to the
agreement by England and France TO
ION him in support Of Austrian lnde-
pendence. He was prepared and is
still prepared to support that mdt-
pendence with Italian troops. accord
ing to my information, which l
cannot disbelieye
There would have been war a few
weeks ago-and in secret council
chambers nerves were on eGgC-It The
German Nazis had crossed the Aus
TRAN frontier to 1oin with the Aus
trian Nazis, as they threatened TO
do.
MuSSolini was playing a dangerous
game with a cool head He banked
on the fact that. despite all popular
belief to the contrary in England and
France. H.Jler is a man Of peace and
will avoid war almost at all costs for
some years ahead
Invented 4-Powcr Pact.
BY people who know the mind Of
Mussolini I have been told here III
Rome Of a transition which has taken
place in the past year or Two He
has always recognized Germany S
claim to equality in arms and many
of her claims which he regards as
lust for revision OF the treaty Of
Versailles. He holds that peace II
Europe. which he desires. though not
at all costs. Will be impossible in the
long run if France and others en-
deavor to keep Germany IN position
Of permanent inferlOrlty.
1t was for this purpose that MuSso-
lini invented the four-power pact,
which was still-born because Of
French dislike and the passionate
suspicion of the little entente. But
Mussolini did not change his view and
held it was impossible to prevent the
rcarming Of Germany. by her CON
sent or without her consent He was
for an au-around agreement in gen
eral disarmament, as he continues
to believe.
But the triumphant success OF Hit
lcr and the racial fanaticism Of the
German Nazis caused in MuSsolinl
sudden anxiety Of an acute kind. He
was, ! am told really and profoundly
shocked. strange as it may seem to
his enemies, by German intolerance
toward the Jews. Above all. he was
confronted with the possibility, not
remote Of a union between Austria
and Germany He could not tolerate
the thought of solid GermaniC bloc
reaching to the frontier of Italy and
threatening to retake that part Of
the Austrian Tyrol which is now
Italian. at least on the maps
From that moment he decided to
prevent such a union by diplomatic
pressure as well as by every means
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