The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-29
Russian Pact Brilliant


the fact that Germany's rapid re-
armament and militarization coin
cides with the breakup of Frances
carefully forged ring of allies around
the Reich. First Poland. tradition
al hater Of Germany and France S
military satellite, fiirted with Hit
Ter.
To offset that. France came to
terms with Soviet Russia in what
amounts to a general alliance-per-
haps the most brilliant diplomatic
achievement Of the postwar period.
For a few months the united front
of France. Britain. Italy and Rus
STA held HitleSs pOwerleSS.
Then came the unexpected British
"desertion" as it is called in
France. This summer the London
Tory government made a separate
naval agreement with Germany.
This violated the Franco-British I'M
Outstanding that they would not
make a separate bargain with Hit
Ter behind the back of the other
party.
Terrific Blow to Paris
No more serious blow has been
suffered by France since 1918. 1t
does more than raise up again the
alleged German naval menace and
completely unbalance the French
ratio. It cracks beyond repair,
some Paris pesSimiSts believe - the
Anglo-French alliance without
which France can not maintain her
military hegemony of Europe.
Under these circumstances most
French diplomats think it would be
suicide for France to risk losing the
friendship of MusSolini. II Duce'S
legions must guard the Bremen
pass. A deal between Hitler and
Mussolini would isolate France al
most as much as Hitler has been
isolated hitherto.
Paris is all the more frantic in its
desire to retain Mussolini as an ally
in European affairs Just because
originally Hitler was MuSsolini' S
pupil and friend.
No Price Too Great
None was more surprised than
France when MusSolini and Hitler
drifted apart. And when Mussolini
prevented Hitler from extending his
NaZs sway TO Austria. in connection
with the assassination of the Aus
trian premier. the French decided
that hardly any price was too great
to pay for maintenance of the I'M
expected Italian alliance. So that
alliance was promptly cemented by
French naval and other concessions
to Rome.
Today the dominant French press
is calling upon its government to
hold the friendship of Italy in the
Ethiopian crisis. With character
iStic French realism and CyniciSm
Information declares.
Since free beings living under
the sacred guarantees of the rights
of man and Of the League of Ma
tionS must be sacrificed for a new
version of the Pax Romano. the
only thing left to do is to dress up
that solution so as to give to it a
decent and honorable aspect"
Carrying on Negotiations
That is precisely what the Paris
government is expected to do. Be-
hind the scenes France is expected
20 retain MusSolini as an ally by
acting in his behalf. while publicly
working for a compromise in the
name Of the sanctity of the league
and of peace.
OF course Paris will not needleSSly
offend Britain. AS the ace of 6i-
plomacy she will try to pull Britain
back into the old French-Italian-
British family.
Indeed France is understood to be
carrying on such compromise nego-
tiatiCnS now. under which Italy
would get much. British would get
slightly less. and Ethiopia would get
nothing Such a settlement would
be a great Franch victory-it would
preserve the present French domi-
mated peace of Europe.
But If that settlement fails and
Britain forces the issue of sanctions
against Italy. France almost certain
" will block League support Of