Evening star., 1937-05-30
BRITAIN is CHALLENGED
ON ALL FRONTS BY DUCE
Seconded in His Task by Hitler, Eng
land Can Do Nothing but Prepare
for Showdown.

the Bari radio station Is working over
time to spread news" among these
people who hitherto have known only
one great Christian power-Great
Britain. The announcers Of that
station are polygots. The broadcasts
are made several times day in Ara
bic, English, Hindustani, Japanese,
Chinese. Afghan, French and Italian,
and they carry the news Mussolini likes
these people to have, and talks on
Italy as Mussolini wants his country
to be known to them
Italian diplomatic activities in Tur-
key, IN Spanish Morocco in Egypt
(now an independent state) and in
Tangiers indicate that Mussolini fol-
lows Kaiser Wilhelm's footsteps. The
latter failed because he did not have
the means II Duce has today. Musso-
linl lis as spectacular as the Hormer
supreme war lord of Germany but also
more practical and more thorough in
his methods.
And there Is not much Great Bri-
tain can do about these activities ex-
cept to be prepared for a showdown il
1t becomes necessary. Mussolini is
seconded in his task by the German
government. The interests of the two
dictators are parallel. Germany wants
to establish her hegemony in Europe
in Central and Eastern Europe to be
eXact-and Italy wants to revive the
old Roman Empire. There are many
experienced and wise men in both
authoritarian states who shudder at
the possible consequences of such .
program. But they are few and can
not be heard. The masses. stirred to
fanatlclsm by the fiery eloquence Of
their dictators and by the easy VIC
tories-the junking Of the Versailles
treaty and the conquest Of Ethiopia
believe that their leaders are invinci-
bic. They willingly accept the sacri-
fees imposed upon them. That.is why
Mussolini and Hitlers spokesmen
can answer offers of the democratic
leaders abroad to join in an economic
conference to discuss repartition OF
raw materials with the words: Eco.
nomic agreements can be OF no value
ment to satisfy our demands"
Britain and France Alone.
Great Britain and France, for the
time being, are alone before the in
creasing menace from the authori-
tartan states. One by one, officially
and unof1cially. the satellites Of the
two democracies have abandoned
them. The Little Entente. one OF the
pillars Of Frances policy against
Germany. has crumpled down. Bel
gium, while still in sympathy with
Great Britain and France, has taken
the necessary steps to keep out Of any
possible entanglements which might
cause her to become involved in an.
other conflict. Russia is still on the
side OF France and will remain 80 as
long as Germany's chief aim is to
penetrate and annex some OF the
"superfluous Soviet territories"
The diplomats of France and Great
Britain are endeavoring to bolster up
the morale Of the Continental Euro
pean nations by rash statements
which often prove fallacious the day
after they are made. Thus, two weeks
ago, an announcement was made in
Paris that Great Britain and France
had decided to guarantee the integrity
OF the territory Of Austria. This fol-
lowed long and pleasant conversa-
ton between Foreign Secretary Yvon
Deibos and Austrian Foreign Minister
ocnmldt. But as soon as the Austrian
reached Vienna. he issued a statement
indicating clearly that because of Aus
trla's geographical position, she is
compelled to remain in the Italian
German sphere Of influence. The dip
donates Of the two democratic states
OF Europe still refuse to recognize-
o1nclaly, at least-that the situation
which existed during the first 10 years
after the World War has radically
changed. They still like to think that
expressions of strength" are sufn-
cient to ward of the dangers which
come, realistically, from Europe's two
principal dictators, Hitler and Musso-
lln1. They are still convinced that the
condition can be patched up by offer
Ing these two dictators loans and GER
tain economic advantages when they
demand new territories for their sur
plus population and raw materials for
their factories.
The civil war in Spain Is likely to
enter into its final phase in the course
OF the next few weeks. The last con-
versations between Mussolini and Hit
lers representatives have freed II Duce
OF his last worries concerning German
cooperation.
More troops will be dispatched
Shortly to Spain-despite the non-in-
terVention agreement and under the
nose OF the war vessels which are pa
trolling the Spanish coast. German
and Italy have decided that renewed
efforts must be made to hasten
Frances victory. If the British gov
eminent decides to overlook this de-
velopment in the hope that she will be
able to defend her position in the
Mediterranean when her military
preparations are completed, the i'm
pending crisis will be deferred.
(Copyrieht. 1879