The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-27
Washington
Merry-Go-
Round
27, 1885
BY DREW PEARSON and
ROBERT S. ALLEN.

Dec. 27-The
w wisest of those who have
their long-range telescopes trained
on the European situation believe
that the danger of general war is
greater than ever.
Reason is the new ring Of Medi-
terranean nations surrounding Mus
solini contains two bitter traditional
enemies of Italy.
These two-YugoSlavia and Tur-
key-would like nothing better than
to precipitate war against their an
cient enemy, especially at a time
when they are sure of the support
of France and Great Britain.
Ever since italy got Fiume, Yugo-
slavia has nurSed a grudge against
her Adriatic neighbor. And there
have been occasions, even during
normal times Of peace, when Britain
and France have exerted vigorous
diplomatic pressure to restrain the
Yugoslav military clique from walk
ing across the border.
Turkey nurses a grudge dating
back to the war of 1911, when
Rome took Tripoli, Rhodes, Libya
and other Turkish colonies. The
Turks now have an up-to-date army,
$40 planes, two battleships, two
cruisers and 10 smaller craft. There
is nothing they would like more
than chance to use them-with
British support - against the
Italians.
The inside story of how this new
makes a revealing drama Of what
really has been going on in Europe
in the last 10 days.
1t began with the abortive Hoare-
Laval agreement.
DEsP1TE the statement Of Pre-
- mier Baldwin that the agree
ment was an error" it was not at
first so considered by the Baldwin
cabinet. 1t was based on the be-
lief that in case of war with Italy,
Britain would have to stand alone.
France had informed Baldwin that
the French feet and army would
not be modified.
Therefore, when the storm Of pub
lie opinion broke against the Hoare-
Laval agreement, and when the
smaller nations proclaimed that
France and Britain had undercut
the League, Capt. Anthony Eden re-
piled, in effect:
In case of war with Italy. Great
Britain would have to bear the bur-
den alone. Therefore, it is up to us
to make our own peace-or-war de-
ciSions."
And as the storm of public opin-
ion became more intense, Stanley
Baldwin prepared to go before par
lament and "unseal his lips" re-
garding the refusal of France and
other League nations to back the
British.
On the Monday before this, how
ever, two things happened.
The Yugoslav minister in Lon
don called at the foreign Office to
say that Yugoslavia was prepared
to put its army and navy behind
Great Britain in case of war with
Italy.
NN the same day, Foreign Min
~ lister Titulescu of Rumania
called upon Premier Laval. He in
formed him that Rumania, Czecho-
slovakia and YugoSlavia were ready
to back France and Great Britain
to the limit.
simultaneously, Capt. Eden had
been carrying on conversations with
the representatives of Spain, Tur-
key and Greece. Spain took the
matter under Amusement. The
Turks promised military and naval
support plus the bombing of the
adjacent Italian naval base at
Rhodes. The Greeks pledged the
use Of harbors in Crete and at Pr
raeus by British warships.
Thus, almost overnight, the po-
sition of the Baldwin government
was materially strengthened. For,
despite the outburst of critical pub
lie opinion, Baldwin was not ready
to risk British isolation IN a war
with Italy.
Overnight, also. the position Of
the French was changed.
Suddenly Laval woke up to find
the Little Entente, once created by
France, now debating to France.
And in order to avoid the embar-
rassment of being the tail wagged
by the Little Entente dog, Laval also
pledged support to Great Britain.
The two countries to keep your
eyes on are Yugoslavia and Turkey.
The question is whether they will
precipitate war with Italy first, or
whether Mussolini, seeing himself
hemmed in by enemies, may strike
the first blow.
Copyright. 1888, by United Feature
Syndicate, Incl
) By George Clark