The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-02-26
PEACE CERTAIN
FOR YEARS,
HE AYERS
PoIish-German Pact Will Be
Kept by Hitler, Il Duce
Tells Knickerbocker
Continued from Page y

CONTINUED from Page ~
Without a pause, as though
his visitor were another link in
the continuous chain that keeps
the Duce in closer touch with
events than perhaps any other
head Of a state in Europe, he
leans forward and begins to put
questions.
Twill war come in EurOpe?"
It is the question that in the
last analysis has kept MusSolini
at his desk overtime, not only
today but for the last year. No
man has q better grasp Of the
menaceS that threaten Europe.
For Him Alone
Other nations have intelligence
services divided among different
departments. Italy'S men abroad
are there FOR just one desk; the
Duce's. His power is based on
three things: His information.
his judgment, his will
Ali three came into play when
he ceased asking and began
answering questions.
"H0w long, your excellency.
do you think it possible to fore
cast that peace in Europe will
be kept?"
81 think we can take the pact
- - ThA~V TxySt1
keep it. Hitler will keep his
side Of the bargain and Poland
hers. That means there will be
NO war over the Polish corridor.
"But how about Austria?
Does your excellency think that
Austria will keep her independ-
ence and if she does not, then is
there no danger of war;"
Mussolini, with vigorous blow
Of his 1T in the air above his
head. said:
"Austria must keep her indie
pendence as q state. Fox more
than q yes people have been
saying every week that the
Austrian government would fan.
It has not fallen yet. And 1t
will not fall.
"The Germans know our at
titude. They know the attitude
Of all the great powers. This
atittuGe s that Austria is an
Independent country and must
be maintained independent and
that no move by any other
country to violate its indepen-
dence will be tolerated. And
we can also forecast that such
al owe will not be made"
WHO CAN SAY?
''But what effective action
could be taken by any Of the
great powers If the National
Socialists were to come to pow
q within Austria herself, with
out overt action from abrOad?"
The foreign ministry Of Italy
countered:
But who can say with GER
tainty that the majority Of the
people in Austria are against
the present regime? And that
the majority Of them are for
the AnschluSS? Remember that
history has shown that the
AuStrians and the Germans, de-
spite their common language
and perhaps also race, have
been divided by centuries Of
separate existence, have been
frequently at war with one an
other, and moreover had funda-
mentally different cultures.
But it is in the interest
Of my country as it is in the
interest of all Europe to per.
petuate the independence Of
Austria, and I shall continue
to act in that direction. Italy
has given the best proof Of
her interest and of her deter
mination. She will continue
to do sO."
Nobody Can Guess
Nobody knows what MuSSolini
could do to prevent Austria from
going Nazi from within. The
best observers are unable to guess
what could be done by any out
side power to prevent a domestic
development in another state If
1t were to come without overt
outside pressure.
The Duce did not say so, but
It is clear to Rome as we'll as
to Vienna that the Germans by
making a truce with Poland,
have protected their backs, and
now have their hands free to
work on the amalgamation of
the German-speaking peoples in
the south. Yet whatever the pos
sibilities may be, the Duce GER
tainly has made plain his will.
For the future of Europe much
depends on how italy eventually
will decide to go: With Ger
many or against Germany. For
the peace of the future every
thing depends on whether Ger
many rearms without limit or
rearms within limits. In this
interview the Duce has eX-
pressed views that may prove
OF historical Importance. To-
morrow the report of his views
will be continued.
Tomorrow - Despite his GSSer.
tionS that he belieUeS peace can
be maintained for at least ten
years, Premier MuSSolini outlines
to Mr.. Knockerbocker the dangers
that he sees ahead.