The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-31

Europe.
 There is no doubt, according to these cables, that the question of peace or war rests largely in the hands of Mussolini.
 When one of the Merry-Go- Founders was in Italy last fall he asked Count Ciano, foreign minister and son-in-law of Mus solini, whether he was optimistic for the peace of Europe. Without hesitation Ciano replied:
 'Tt all depends on Spain. If General Franco Is successful there win be no war i'm Europe. If the other side wins .. /" (here he held out his hands i'm questioning gesture) 'WeIl, anything may happen. Italy ! cannot afford to have a1 iIli- :, friendly government at the mouth of the Mediterr9nesn.Y
 American diplomats who heard that remark were inclined to pooh-pooh 1t as youthful bom- bast. At that time Italy had not even sent troops to Spain. But subsequent events indicate that Ciano was talking not for himself, but for his father-in-law.
 Mussolini's Mood '3t
 To understand how dangerous is MusSolini's mood right now, re- member that he has an army of 1,250,0O0 men already mobiiized and with time hanging heavy on their hands. Also, he has great pride in this army, basks in the glory of its Ethiopian victory, probably would refer to fight erath- CT than permit any tarnish of that victory.
 Unfortunately the Italians de- feated by the Spanish Loyalists were road-builders, not crack troops. But the world does not know that, considers their re- treat 8 reflection on Mussolini's regular army.
 British Worry
 Britain's truculent attitude toward Italy derives from the fact that the British have more to worry about from Mussolini than anyone else in Europe. His trip to Libya in North Africa was aimed directly against them.
 Already the Italians have built . strategic concrete highway across Libya to the border of Egypt, gateway of Suez. Already they have built a powerful naval base in the Red Sea, part of the British life Hines to the Dominions.
 In Libya Mussolini posed as the protector of the sMoslens, re- ceived two enlissayies from the great Arab chieftain Ibn Sald. If Mussolini can rally the Arabs to his Fascist cause in Iraq, Pales- tine and Arabia, he would have British prestige frayed and frazzled in the Near East.
 Sugar Coating ',a
 Naturally there is a lot more to Norman Davis sudden trip to London than the announced in- tention to attend 8 sugar confer- ence. Actually he wants to ar- range the sugar coating for an arms conference. Roosevelt, Hu and Bullitt still are toying with that idea = though almost noth- ing can come of it.
 Perhaps even more important, Davis will drop some quiet hints to the British to sit calm, not get excited over Mussolini. American advice, for whatever it may be worth, is to let the Spanish kettle stew at least until the British are really re-armed. And they are a long way from that today.
 Right Economies
 Friends of Leon Henderson, for fner member of the MIRA board. have a new niche for him. Since leaving MIRA, Henderson has been an economics professor, then ad- wiser to the democratic national committee, and now is on the staff of the WPA.
 The other day Don Stevens oi the Friends Service Committee called up David Niles, who is Hendersons' chief in WPA, and said: "T'm making some charts and graphs about miners and stranded communities. But the charts don't work. Who Is that man you have who makes all the lines go the right way?"
 Promptly Niles replied: "You must mean Leon Henderson M.
 "Thats the man." said Stew ems. "Take me to him. T'need
 that kind of an economist" Signs of the Times
 The struggle over the Supreme Court issue becomes fiercer and more personal with each passing day. How deep are passions be ing stirred is illustrated by two incidents in widely separated parts of the country. as
 (1) The Youngstown (Ohio)