Evening star., 1936-06-14
nv CONSTANTINE BROWN.

WINS hAN AA4NG DANO
A NEW political combination is
~ in preparation in Europe at
a the present moment. In Italy
n and in the Reich it is called
the Central European Front" In
France and in Great Britain it is
called the hegemony of relationships
over Europe.
After months of hesitations and
secret negotiations Mussolini and
Hitler have reached the conclusion
that since there are no conflicting in
terests between the two countries
common front to control Europe is
necessary.
A serious approchement between
Der Fuehrer and II Duce began soon
after the League of Nations imposed
sanctions against Italy. During the
difficult days of the Ethiopian cam
paign Hitler stood by his Italian fell
low-dictator, providing him with
whatever raw materials Germany
could spare-mostly coal and copper.
After the Italian victory in East
Africa Mussolini, irked by the atti-
tude of France and Great Britain,
made up his mind to abandon the
Western European front and throw
his lot in with the Reich.
Stresa Pronounced Dead.
On May % the Tribuna, leading
newspaper in Rome, published an
inspired" editorial-the inspiration
coming straight from II Duce-to the
effect that Italy does not intend to
return to old political formulae like
those agreed on at Stresa in 1885"
The Roman newspaper concluded,
"Stresa is now dead"
The editorial was written shortly
after the return from Berlin of Signor
Rossoni, the Italian minister of agri-
culture. Rossoni is one Of the con-
fidential and trustworthy friends OF
II Duce He was sent to Berlin soon
The German Minister at Adds Ababa
and it was through him that Hitler
was notified of the annexation of
Ethiopia to the Italian empire. In
the meantime, according to reliable
reports received in Washington, Sig
nor RoSsoni made it clear to Hitler
that Italy was willing to cooperate
with Germany in more active man
ner than ever in the past.
And, while all kinds of attentions
were showered upon II Duce's envoy
in Berlin, the German Ambassador In
Rome was specially invited by II Duce
to witness from the balcony of the
Palazzo Venezia the historic ceremony
of the annexation of SelaSsie's empire.
The German Minister at Adds Ababa
was the first diplomat to call officially
on Field Marshal Badoglio to offer
him the "warmest congratulations of
the German government for the VIC
tory of the Italian armies" -
Austrian Bonds Given Reich.
A significant financial transaction
took place between Germany and
Italy on May II. During the cam
paign Italy had purchased important
amounts of raw material from Ger
many. The final settlement was made
when the Italian government surren-
dered to the Reich part of its I'M
pounded holdings of stocks and bonds
to the Austrian republic. II Duce,
fully aware of Germany's aims on
Austria, did not hesitate to surrender
them to the Reich. And now. to
prove further his desire to please the
NaZi government, Mussolini has light
heartedly thrown overheard the rep
resentative of fascism in Austria,
Prince Starhemberg, and has given
his blessing to the new dictator of
the Danubian republic, DR.. Schusch-
nigg. The Austrian chancellor no
longer needs to hide his pro-Nazi
leanings, confident that Mussolini and
Hitler are behind him.
Whether Austria's salvation will
come through the restoration Of the
young and inexperienced Archduke
Otto of Hapsburg or by continuing
the present regime is matter which
will be decided for Schuschnigg n
Rome and Berlin.
The Central European front which
Is being prepared at the present mo-
ment will consist of Italy. Germany,
Austria, Albania and Bulgaria-that
is to say, two planets and four satel-
lites-to begin with. That other Gen.
tral European states might join this
combination in the near future ap-
pears possible.
DR.. Schacht, Hitler's financial wiz
ard, has just completed trip through
the Balkans, where he visited Buda-
pest, Belgrade, Sofia and Athens to
discuss the possibility of improving the
system of exchange of commodities