Evening star., 1936-08-23

Of what is left of SPANS colonial
empire.
Vital to British.
Spanish Morocco must remain
Spanish from the British point Of
view-otherwise Gibraltar would lose
its importance. The Balearic Islands,
for the same reason can not pass
into the hands of another power and
the Canary Islands are too vital a
naval base to be allowed to pass out
of both British and Spanish hands.
The importance of these islands Is
so much greater at the present mo-
ment because the British have tenn
porarily lost control Of the Eastern
Mediterranean and are planning to
use the Cape Of Good Hope route in
the event of an international con-
fagration. There remains the Province
of Rio do Orc, a quasi-desert on
the West African coast. But Rio do
Orc today revives memories Of Agadir.
And the French-regardless of what
political opinions they hold would
rather fight to the last man than
permit the Germans to settle so close
to Southern Morocco. 1t would mean
to them the loss of their North Afri-
can empire-the pearl Of France-in
less than 30 years.
This determination Of France and
Great Britain not to allow the vul-
lures to pick Spain's carcass should
discourage the Italians and the Ger
mans, but it does not seem to have
that effect. Early in January, II
Duce had a heart-to-heart talk with
Charles de Chambrun, the French
Ambassador. Until I have Abys-
sinia," said Mussolini, II consider
myself q fighting proletarian. But
once I conquer that territory, I shall
be q capitalist and good boy" So
Rome is at the moment peace-minded.
Berlin Great Unknown.
Berlin is the great unknown in the
international equation Hitler has
been too busy with the Olympic games,
they say in Berlin, to give much
thought to this problem. But he has
had time to order the admiral and
officers of the Mediterranean squad
ron to call formally on the rebel
leader at Ceuta and to toast the sue
cess of the anti-Communist troops.
Germany and Italy are not 100 per
cent prepared for war. They still need
a few months-Germany especially
before they are completely ready. This
point Is being emphasized in London
and Paris. But it is equally true that
Groot nrifoiy, Nd ho
Soviet Republics are even less ready
for war than the Central Powers.
Great Britain Is building up her navy
and her air force as rapidly a. her
vast industrial means permit. But
even with the tremendous means at
her disposal, she will not. be ready
earlier than the Fall Of 1897.
France Is overready: That Is, she
has been preparing for showdown for
SO many years that about 40 per cent
of her aviation and an equal percent
age of her mechanical forces are obso-
1ete compared with the Italian and
German forces. Russia, they say here,
Is ready in Slav manner. That
means that she has everything on
PoPSl, o4ic AldS d SOOO Qedl ready, k1lt
nothing perfect. The machinery is
there, but there are too many loose
screws.
Few capitals in the world are better
informed than Berlin and Rome about
the real military power of every ma
tion. Both Mussolini and Hitler know
that the combined German Italian
forces are worrying France and Great
Britain.
They know, too, that Britain is anx-
ious to preserve peace in Europe-at
least until she is ready. They know
that the Baldwin cabinet has pledged
its word to help France in the event
of trouble in Western Europe. In
spite Of that they do not believe that
Great Britain will allow herself to be
drawn into q conflict at the present
time. But If Germany, taking advan-
tage of the Spanish imbroglio, can OBJ
tain concessions either at Spain's ex-
pense or from other sources, a conflict
will be avoided. In ordinary language,
the pressure which the two Central
Powers are exercising on the other ma
tions is akin to blackmail. In state
language it Is called shrewd diplomacy.
(Copyright. 1850