Evening star., 1936-01-05
BRITAIN MUST DECIDE
TOCRUSH OR AID ITALY
Hitler Domination in Mid-Europe May
Be Price if Sanctions Are Pursued
to Save Ethiopia.

ISL Lett Ill Tic McOiLeTId dIledn, mas
been responsible for the Japanese ad-
vance in North China and outer
Mongolia, and if it leads to military
action will be the precipitating cause
of a great German sweep down the
Danube and up the Elbe. To i'm
agine that either Japan or Germany
will wait until League triumph over
Italy can constitute an obstacle to
the realization of their own impartial
istic programs is patiently to envision
mirage.
Compromise Wise Policy.
As time will almost unquestionably
demonstrate, the Hoare-Laval COM
promise was a bit of wise statesman
Ship-in fact 1t was a plain recogs.
milton of the truth that a prolonga-
ton and intensif1cation of the Anglo
Italian quarrel, nominally only dis
pute between Rome and Geneva,
threatened to precipitate disaster in
at least three continents. Baldwin
and Hoare had, however, been the
architects of their own ruin, because
they had, in order to win do
nestic election. committed them
selves to the support of these princi-
pies of Geneva, which were not to
be reconciled with the subsequent
agreement.
Baldwin's situation after the recent
election was identical with that of
Lloyd George after the Khaki elec-
paign the Welsh prime minister had
pledged his government to a policy
in respect to reparations which made
all reasonable terms at Paris out of
the question. Ten years of chaos
in Europe were, accordingly, the di.
rect result Of Lloyd Georges platform
promises. In the same way Baldwin
had pledged his government to sup
port League principles and thus had
barred the way to any negotiated set
tlement with Italy.
Young Anthony Eden is not going
to have much easier time, because
he will have to deal with the same
realities and he, too, will be expected
to fulfill his campaign pledge of fidel-
ity to the principles of Geneva. Eden
must in the end either betray Geneva
or involve his country in a struggle
the evil consequences of which must
be incalculable. For he cannot ac-
complish the defeat of Italy without
producing war or revolution. and either
will play into German hands enor-
mously. Since he has personal feud
with Mussolini and an ambition which
is boundless, it may well be that he
will decide to smash italy at all costs.
Certainly this will be, politically, the
easiest way, but it is bound to bring
about consequences alike in Europe
| and in Asia which are terrifying to
consider.
Must Spare Mussolini.
The alternative to turning Central
Europe over to Germany and Eastern
Asia over to Japan is new COM
promise not greatly unlike that framed
by Hoare and Laval Mussolini will
have to be spared all humiliation and
allowed the semblance of victory at
least or he cannot now stop without
committing suicide politically. Nor
can the situation be prolonged safely
beyond the next two months. Ten
weeks hence, when the campaigning
season in Ethiopia is over, if a settle
ment has not then been made there
will arrive crisis more acute than
anything yet experienced. If, at that
time, sanctions continue to be imposed,
then Italy will manifestly begin to
crack under the strain.
Mussolini's last card remains this
obvious and justified fear on the part
of the British that making Italy weak
will only serve to strengthen Japan
and Germany Already he is being
criticized widely for not having snap
ped up the Hoare-Laval proposals in
stantly, but it is clear that he had
no reason to expect the explosion
which they provoked and was fearful
of seeming too eager. both as it might
suggest weakness on his own part and
overgenerosity on the part of the
French and British statesmen. Prob
ably the longing for a clear-cut mill
tary victory also had part in delay
which proved disastrous
Every one must, however. see what
chance it will be for both Japan and
Germany, if all the British and French
warShips and aircraft are occupied
in League war upon Italy Nor is
it less plain that once Hitler is in
Vienna and Prague, and simultaneous
ly Italy is smashed by League war,
there will exist no combination of
forces in Europe sufficient to expel
him. The sacrifice of MuSsolini will,
then, insure the supreme success of
Hitler and Ethiopia will be saved only
at the expense of Austria and Czecho-
Slovakia.
So far, the only beneficiaries of
League activities have been Japan and
Germany. who quit Geneva because it
constituted an obstacle to their i'm
perialistic purposes. If, too, Italy has
so far been the unique victim, it must
be evident already that eventually the
British may be called upon to pay a
not inconsiderable price. measured
alike in decline of imperial security in
Europe and Asia.
(CopyriRht 1936)