The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-11
No Major Power Knows
Where 1t Stands,
Simms Reports.
BRITISH SEE CHALLENGE
London Must Make Friend
of Italy or Fight Her,
Statesmen Agree.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Scripps Howard Foreign Editor

FAhlO, May 1l.-MuSSo-
lini's midnight proclamation
of a new Roman empire
stretching from the Alps to
the Indian Ocean has left Eu-
rope dazed and Keeling, like a
badly mauled fighter cropping
for his corner.
Not single major power knows
exactly where it stands, let alone
how others line up, so rapid, so be-
wildering, so kaleidoscope have been
recent events.
I have discussed the situation with
some leading statesmen and diplo-
mats, yet no one seems to have a
definite idea what effect II Duce's
dramatic coup will have on Europs
and the world.
In England, which I have just left.
many regard it as a definite chaI-
lenge to the British Empire, on
whose flank the new Roman Empire
is rising. Yet opinion is split wide
open OH how to face this devotion.
nent.
Britain Faces Threat
Most authorities agree that
Britain must make Italy her friend
or eventually fight her. They admit
there is no middle course. From
there. however, they differ as to
policies.
The Churchills, Chamberlains ct
al. insist on the immediate dropping
OF sanctions and a rapprochement
with Rome in order to face the big
ger and more pressing peril persons
fed by Adolf Hitler.
The Snowdens. Cecils, etc., just as
vehemently demand maintenance of
sanctions. They are convinced that
the new empire is built on the sand
OF impending national bankruptcy
and that it will fall of it's own &C
cord, carrying the Duce and Fascism
with it, If sanctions are continued.
Hope to Vindicate League
After Mussoiini and FaScism are
crushed, according to this school of
thought, England then will put a
new Italy back on her feet, restoring
her king to place of real authority.
The League of Nations thus will be
indicated, and through a strong
League the peace of Europe will be
secured.
In France, where I have Just
arrived, an even greater confusion
prevails.
To the Socialists, due to take over
the government about a fortnight
hence, with the support of the now
powerful Communists, both FasciSts
and Nazis are anathema. They
favor continuing sanctions as
strongly as the outgoing government
has opposed them. Yet even they
are hesitant. While they dislike
Fascism they hate Nazism even
more, and fear that conflict be-
tween France and Italy would play
into Hitler's hands.
Germany, Soviet Enemies
Germany is Soviet Russia's arch
enemy, and French Communists
take their cue from Moscow.
Hitler soon will have to deal with
a Jewish premier Of France, the So
cialist Leon Blum. That is one of
the imponderables one would do
well not to overlook
True, under ordinary circum-
stances Russia might Offset Ger
many while the League dealt with
Italy. But Moscow would not well
come the job, aware as she is that
Japan has powerful army poised
for action in the Far East the mo-
ment Russia's hands are tied by a
major conflict in Europe.
So the League of Nations, meet
ing today at Geneva, stands with is
back to the wall Indeed the
League is more bewildered over
what to do than anybody. Com
posed of individual states, it gropes
blindly through the fog Of their
combined and often conflicting con-
fusion
Meanwhile cross England,
France, Italy, Russia, the rest Of
Europe and the League, falls the
shadow Of Hitler and one Of the
most amazingly mobile armies the
world has ever seen. AL fear this
machine. That too is a factor not
IN he ovariooLrad