The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-09-06


Four-Power pact, which was designed
to make the four great European ma
tions-France, Great Britain, Germany
and Italy-agree to force the others
to maintain the peace in Europe, Italy
has minimized in its press every act
of the league. She has shown her i'll
humor with the league by militarizing
consistently and completely over the
past few years.
Italy's single purpose today is ter.
ritorial expansion through protec-
torate over Ethiopia, for she must
have more room for her people. With
respect to European affairs, she will
fight to maintain the status quo. She
would like, of course, to reach some
sort of agreement with Germany, be-
cause the African campaign, when and
if it starts in earnest, will weaken
Italy on the north.
Italy will continue to attempt friend
ly relations with the Little Entente,
with Yugoslavia in particular. The
only real uncertainty in her foreign
relations is Austria, for Germany may
attempt a revival Of the "Anschluss"
italian military maneuvers along the
Austrian frontier will be increased.
Through all this it may be seen that
Italy's policy is maintenance Of the
status quo, with plenty of military
power in reserve should that policy
fail.
Germany Wants No War.
AS far as Germany is concerned, a
war seems to- be out of the question,
at least for the present. 1t would be
too heavy in cost to nation which is
just beginning program of conscrip.
ton and Of building up military re-
serves. Germany. has honestly sought
an understanding with France and hon.
estly desires one. She views France
with concern only because Of the
Franco-Russian pacts and the Franco
Polish pacts.
German relations with Soviet Rus
STA leave much to be desired, Hitler
having made peace offerings to every
important European nation except Rus
STA. Nazi dislike for Bolshevism may
appear to be reason on the surface,
but more probable is the competition
for influence in the Baltic states. Ger
many is set upon building a navy to
operate in the Baltic sea, so it may
be seen that she is not to be left hold
ing the bag in affairs of eastern Eu-
rope.
Germany and Poland have their ten
year pact signed in 1884, aimed prin-
cipally at Russia. Hitler is not going
to forget about his interests in Aus
tria; more of this, as has been said
before, may be heard when Italian
strength ON the northern frontier Is
weakened by the expedition into Eth
opia. At any rate, Germany is likely
to be the last nation in Europe to
enter a war, in the opinion of students
of international affairs.
Russia, who has been steadily arm
ing for several years, until today she
possesses one of the greatest Of all
military machines, is definitely for the
status quo. Her vast land has more
than enough natural resources for its
people. She is building a new nation,
in way of speaking, and a war
would seriously upset her schedule.
For this reason, Russia has been one
Of the leaders in efforts for collective
security in Europe. But she has not
hidden her belief that it is Germany
who will topple the equilibrium of Eu-
rope since the war and that the Italian
movements in Africa will affect the
situation. Says the spokesman of the
Kremlin, Karl Radek:
Seizure Of Abyssinia may involve
greater difficulties than Italy suspects.
German Fascism, which shows no dis
position to discourage Italy in this ad-
venture, takes this into account. lraly's
adventure In Abyssinia may lead to
such changes In the unstable correla-
ton of European powers as will accel-
crate another European war. In the
present situation in Europe, war in
Abyssinia may have the same Sig
nificance as war In Libya had for the
war of 1914"
q Western Newsnaper Union