The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-09-12
BY DAVID p. SENTNER
Copyright, 1895, by International
News Service)

BY DAVID p. SENTNER
Copyright, 1885, by International
News Service)
LONDON, Sept. IL UN.SO
King Edward VIII has stepped
out on his first big task since
he came to the throne.
When he was Prince OF Wales
he was termed "Britain'S travel
ing salesman" His extensive
travels resulted in increased Brit
ish prestige, the wider sale OF
British products and general
goodwill.
But he has now been out on
his most important selling" job
Ostensibly, the visit Of His
Majesty to Yugoslavia, Greece
and Turkey has been a vacation
cruise.
It has been anything but q
vacation.
Shrewd Campaign
It is part of a shreWd and de-
termined campaign Of British
diplomats to save the big lake
the Mediterranean-for the en-
pire, International News Service
learned exclusively today.
Mussolini has challenged the
British for control of the Medl-
terranean. In his defiance OF the
British fleet during the AbySsln-
ian campaign and his victory over
the League, he has won the first
round.
The British Lion, having learned
he cannot bluff the Italian die
tator, is licking his scratches
philosophically.
An Anglo-Egyptian military ALI
ance has been concluded.
Britain, rearming rapidly at sea
and in the air, is attempting to re-
forge the Balkan Gordon around
italy. This bloc of Mediterranean
nations was bound together with
Britain in a mutual defence I'M
derstanding during the AbySsin-
ian crisis.
The British foreign office, in an
attempt to appeaSe Mussollnl, de.
clared this mutual pact has lapSed
with the dropping Of sanctions.
It included Britain, Yugoslavia,
Greece, Turkey and Portugal.
portugal and Britain have mill
tary alliance based on century-old
treatiesO
The-l the BOmbShell
It was hoped the Duce would be
drawn back into the Locarno
group, weaned away from Ger
many, and the peace OF Europe
thereby guaranteed.
Then came the Spanish bomb
shell. The nation which forms the
backdoor of British Gibraltar, ex-
nloded into internecine strife.
The internal issue in Spain be-
came dwarfed by the political in
+erests Of Fascist Germany and
Ttaly-and France, bending back
ward towards Russia and Com
munism.
Spain became the battlefield OF
Eascism versus Communism, with
russia and france sympathizing
with the Spanish leftist govern
ment: with Italy and Germany sid
ing with the Fascist rebels.
England is twice as alarmed as
when Mussolini took AbysSinia.
england suspects a straight
military alliance between Italy
and Germany.
England suspects a territorial
reward awaits one or both OF
these nations if the rebels win.
Britain cannot afford to have
italy or Germany in Spanish
Morocco, the Balearic Islands or
the Canary Islands.
The British know they must
eventually fight for their control
of the Mediterranean if Italy or
Germany obtains toehold near
Gibraltar.
Changes Plans
So-King Edward announces he
has changed his plans for a vaca-
tion in Cannes due to the troub-
ious conditions in nearby Spain.
Cannes is quiet resort on the
French Riviera, hundreds Of miles
away from war-torn Spain.)
He sails in his yacht to Yugo-
slayia where racial politics
ceethe beneath the surface;
where they buried the late King
Alexander assassinated in Mar
Seilles by a Balkan terrorist;
where a battalion of secret police
meticulously guarded the august
person of the visiting monarch.
Then he went to Greece
boiling from recent bloodshed
and internal discord.
Then His Majesty went to
Turkey, which has just won the
right to refortify the Darda-
nelles: the nation being wooed
most unctuously by every chan
cellory in Europe.