Evening star., 1934-06-20
European Diplomacy Seeks
Safety in New Alliances

American observers have watched
with interest the meeting Of the Ger
man and Italian dictators, which is
regarded as the natural sequel TO the
isolation Of Germany in the European
diplomatic picture.
Because of Germany's isolation, "
says the Baltimore Sun, Hitler sought
and obtained conference with Musso-
lini. The Nazis have found that in
the diplomatic field they cannot hope
to live unto themselves alone. On the
other hand. Mussolini Is quite plainly
not interested in helping Germany
solely for Germany's sake. He might
do so II he could thereby help Italy
and so advance his own prestige
France is still the dominant power on
the Continent. however. and it now
has not only the tacit support OF Eng
land. but of Russia. In the face Of
this combination Germany is decid-
edly weak and would not be mater
ia!ly strengthened even II assured Of
Italian assistance. 1t would seem to
be In Mussolini's interest, therefore,
to be polite to Hitler and at the same
time pursue his present course Of
seeking an understanding with France,
1t would hardly do for him to make
some sort of diplomatic or military ar
rangement with Germany, for that
would unQuestionably prejudice his
relations with Paris
Soviet Russia, by her cleverness in
sligning with herself many Of the
F1ench allies in central Europe, and
even broaching q pact with France
herself, entirely outside the League
and in contravention of its funda-
mental principles" in the judgment
of the Columbus Evening Dispatch, lis
far from guiltless in paving the way
to possible conflict, although she is
doubtless taking steps to strengthen
herself in event Of war, whether aris-
ing from her own act or that of a
foreign country. With the League still
in existence, with Russia forming her
own pacts with European neighbors
and with France still insistent on the
Versailles treaty, which is bound up
with the League, and still determined
to maintain its force, while also ne
eotiating understandings with possible
future allies, and with Germany,
meanwhile, caught between League
pressure to preserve the treaty and
the growth Of pacts between military
rivals, the outlook is confused. 1t
makes responsibility for aggression
hard to assign with the honors about
even."
Neither England nor italy is in
complete sympathy with France,
thinks the Indianapolis News, dis
cussing the}"encircling Of Germany"
The Charleston (w. VaJ Daily Mail
feels that "far-reaching possibilities
in European politics are involved in
the Italo- German situation" and the
Roanoke Times AYERS that Hitler
wants one thing, Mussolini wants an
different" The San Antonio Express
holds as to the general situation:
France now seeks to renew q military
convention with Poland, to assure
common action against Germany In
event Of war: but the Polish govern
ment may prove cold to the proposal
1t has Berlin's pledge that the Polish
Corridor issue win not be raised fof
at least 10 years to come, and it may
consider that a new military agree
ment with France would violate the
spirit Of that understanding. In this
| regard the French war ministry may
be working without the foreign Of
fees approval, but such action would
be unusual In . centralized govern