The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-19

ONE was a report made by British secret agents on Musso- lini's naval concentrations and the state of mind of the Italian people. Chief purpose of this was to ascertain whether Mussolini was bluffing when he threatened European war in case of an oil embargo.
 The British report satisfied Downing Street that he was not bluffing. Submarines were re- ported already concentrated sec cretly against English shipping. British agents concluded that the very secrecy of the ship move ments belied any idea of bluff. They also reported the Italian people ready for war.
 No French Support
 TWO was an ultimatum given Sir Samuel Hoare by Premier La- val that while he would support Great Britain publicly, France would not and could not mobilize in case of war.
 He pointed out first, that French peasants would not answer . mobilization call. Even more important, the Con- script Maritime or French Na- val reserves, who would have to be mobilized first, would not answer 8 call.
 The British were not quite sure at first whether Laval was dou- ble-crossing them, so checked this through their own agents. They found Laval was telling the truth. This was what Stanley Baldwin meant when he an- nounced in Parliament that his "lips were sealed" regarding cer- tain things.
 Arabia
 THREE was the situation in Egypt-where anti-British riots have been advertised to the world-but also the situation in Arabia which has not been ad- vertised.
 There Ibn Saud, powerful ruler of Arab tribes, has been flirting with Italy. Until recently how ever, he was much more friendly to Abyssinia, due to the Koran which tells how 8 King of Abys- sinia once gave refuge to Mo- hammed. But as the Mediter- ranean dispute broadened into 8 clash between Italy and Britain, Ibn Saud veered against the Bri- tish, with whom he had been allied in the war in the days of Lawrence of Arabia.
 What he saw was a chance to conquer the British-supported country of Iraq-and OIL. And this had decidedly dampening effect upon Downing Street.
 Hitler's IrOnic Position
 FOUR was a series of secret negotiations with Hitler.
 These were held by both the French and British Ambassadors in Berlin. They got nowhere.
 The extent to which the French and British went in trying to win over the dictator of Nazi Ger many has not leaked out in Eu- rope, and if so would scarcely be believed. Hitler was offered col- onies, loan, almost anything if he would sign 8 non-aggression pact, agree to side with them against Italy.
 But he flatly refused. What
 he said, in effect, was this:
 Germany has suffered much, and public opinion would not
 stand for any such agreement
 now. For us it would be . re-
 treat. The only thing I can definitely promise you Is the Rhine. It will not be violated. Central and Eastern Europe are my field"
 Central Europe
 FIVE. But it is exactly Gen. tral and Eastern Europe that the French and British are worried about.
 German strategy in regard to this area has been well-known for some time. It is to take over Austria, use this as a stepping stone for annexing Czechoslovakia which already has over three million Germans-then march into the Ukraine and Russia.
 This of course, would be 6 blow not only to the French-in- spired Little Entent, but the pre- liminary to war in Western Eu- rope.
 Troop Transfer
 SIX. Therefore, imagine the consternation of the French when Mussolini suddenly transferred a large portion of his troops from the Brenenr Pass to the Italo- French border.
 The Brenner Pass is the gate- way between Italy and Austria. Concentrations of Italian troops there have been a constant re- hinder to Hitler that he could not take Austria without trouble. This was part of the deal between France and Italy, by which