Evening star., 1937-10-10
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Nu began and ended in a blare
IVY of trumpets and military
l. a pomp, as BELTS the character
Of the two dictators who got together
for several days to discuss their poll
cies toward Europe. That at least is
what the public saw and heard.
Diplomats who have been anxiously
watching the developments for some
basis Of future mutual understand
ing" are admittedly disappointed. II
Duce and Der Fuehrer merely forged
a few more bolts to strengthen the
Berlin-Rome axis.
Dictators who are the uncontrolled
masters Of the destinies of their coun-
tries need fear no indiscretions on the
part of their underlings when they
talk with each other about their future
plans. Ambassadors and their aides,
who have no better sources of informa-
ton in Berlin and In Rome, have been
thrown a few hints. And these hints
indicate that the German Italian CO.
operation to fight communism remains
solid. Fighting communism means
forcing the pace to help Gen. Franco
win final victory over the Madrid
government and endeavoring to check
Russia in any movement she may
want to make either in Europe or in
the Far East
Prepares for Possible Showdown.
This scant information was received
with feeling Of detection in London
and with pleasure in France. London,
confronted with vital problems not
only in Europe but in the Near East
and in the Far East, has decided to
grid herself for possible showdown
with the totalitarian states.
Paris was delighted because her II
told you So proved to be true. For
months French diplomats have been
warning Pripe Minister Neville Cham
berlain and Secretary Anthony Eden
against any attempt to win Italy and
Germany to the democratic side be-
cause they would get the worst end Of
the bargain
1t was with deep apprehension that
Paris learned Of the exchange Of letters
between Mussolini and Chamberlain.
1t was with the same feeling that they
heard about the vague chickering's re-
garding the return of colonies and the
granting of economic advantages to
Berlin and Rome 1t was in the same
mood that the Quai d'Orsay discussed
yJr1th cfv ~f
recognizing the conquest of Ethiopia.
Answer Of French Diplomats.
To all these attempts of the British
government to patch up, at least tenn
porarily, the dissensions between the
authoritarian states and the European
democracies. the French diplomats
said: do not attempt to do anything
of the sort so long as Mussolini and
Hitler are the supreme masters of
125,000.O00 individuals"
The British government has been
trying during the last 18 months to
regain her position as arbiter of Eu-
rope. She lost this role when. in 1885,
she signed naval agreement with
Germany which officially recognized
the non-existence of the military
clauses of the Versailles treaty.
Since that time. however, Britain
realized the futility of playing nations
against each other and has been veer-
ing towards the Western democracies
But it still had hopes of coming to
~ a tr~1fh
the authoritarian states. British Dip
lomats admitted in their private con-
versation that such makeshift agree
ment was essential until the British
rearmament program was completed
1t became apparent to Berlin and
Rome that the British advances were
caused by desire to temporize and
that London expected to make no con-
cessions.
Positions of DictatOrs.
Mussolini and Hitler. according tc
advices received in Washington, have
taken stock of the situation and
rightly or wrongly, concluded that II
would be difficult to detach Britain
from France. This, in the minds oi
the two dictators, indicated that theil
plans to throw Russia out of the
concert of European powers would bt
futile. Despite the execution Of fiele
marshals, generals and other high
government officials. despite the grave
internal'situation Of the Soviets. where
Stain is making a gigantic effort tt
dispose Of all opposition, the French
government and the general staff hav,
great faith in the Soviets as an ally
in case of emergency.
The analysis of the situation force.
the two dictators to conclude tha
while there can be no question Of 6
London Paris Moscow axis, sim.
ilarity of political interests compel!
Great Britain to stand by Paris ane
Moscow in preference to Berlin anc
Rome.
The result of this stock-taking be
gins to become apparent now.
Hardly had the blares of the Ber
lin fanfares ceased than the rumble
of war from Arabia began to be hear,
in London.
| Cause Of Arab Outburst,
There is no question in the minds O.
the British foreign Office that the nev
| Arab outburst in Palestine is beinl
engineered by Italian propaganda
OF course there is deep, seethins
discomfort among the Arabs regard
ing the plan for the division of Pal
estine. But the Arabs know how t.
bide their time. Their leaders, as ha.
been conclusively proven to the Brit
ish intelligence services, are in clos,
contact with the Italians, while theil
people are being served remarkably
fine propaganda menu by the Italian
| radio station at Bari since a fortnight
| ago after months of quiet.
In the meantime, the Muftis il
Jerusalem and other centers in Pal
estine have begun to incite the popu
lation against the Jews and thet
supporters" the British. The recen
sporadic outbreaks are only warnings
Of more serious things to come. Ths