Evening star., 1937-09-05

Ilolldl StdIeS OI central Europe OF
bully them into submission.
The German and Italian leaders
have taken to heart the great lesson
OF l9l4-19l8-that Northern Africa
constitutes a formidable reserve OF
military and economic power. This
reserve, owing to the friendly rela-
tlons at last established, a year ago
between the British and Egyptian gov
ernments. would be likely to contribute
to the ultimate decision of future
war, even more materially than was
the case in the last conflict.
Turkey Spurns Germany.
The dictators also realize that Tur-
Key and the territories that formerly
belonged to its empire, now under
French and British influence, would
this time, pull with all their weight
to the advantage of the Western ma
tions and no longer be assigned part
in the Germanic coalition.
Hence the continuous exertions of
Mussolini and his agents in Tunis,
in Egypt, in Palestine, in Syria, in
Trans-Jordan and in the Yemen, the
native state in the Arabic peninsula
Even in distant Indo-China, a hand
ful OF Italian settlers do their best
to make themselves troublesome to
the French authorities. Here is a
concrete example of all those en-.
deavors: The Cairo government was
recently approached by Rome with a
suggestion that the Italian legation
there be transformed into a full
t1edged embassy-a step calculated to
natter and encourage the megaloma-
MA OF the Egyption nationalists, to
lmpel them to challenge the diplo-
matlc pre-eminence enjoyed by the
representative of the British govern
ment
The idea sedulously entertained in
Rome is that all the difficulties which
necessarily arise from the contact be-
tween the European rulers and the
African and Asiatic races must be
Kept alive by outside interference and,
II possible, expanded into serious DO
htlcal embarra assments big enough to
cripple Or keep them busy on the spot.
IN an emergency.
In Rome, on January 7, 1885
Messrs. Mussolini and Laval concluded
as the prelude to cooperation against
Germany in Europe, a wide colonial
arrangement which concerned the
S tus OF the Italians in Tunis (their
privileges were gradually to disappear
after 80 years.. the enlargement of
Libya's hinterland at the expense of
french equatorial Africa and-we
Know 1t only too well-the develop
ment OF Italian interests in and around
Abysslnla. 1t is not generally realized
that except for Abyssinia) that
agreement has come to nothing. AS
REGARDS Iunls, neither government
ever succeeded in translating into a
detailed convention the principles to
which it had given its assent. Be-
SIDES, the outcome of the Abvssinian
war once more ranged the French and
Italian signatories in opposite camps
on the Continent, and consequently
not an inch of territory has been
transferred from the French flag to
the Italian.
French Island Italian Stronghold.
l have often been amused to read.
IN the British press, disquieting ac-
counts of how the island of Doumerah,
IN the Red Sea, has been turned into
an Italian stronghold. The island,
as matter of fact, has not ceased to
t1y the French tricolor.
The breakdown of the 1885 treatv
mas, OF course, increased Fascist ran
cors and Jealousy regarding colonial
aHalrs 1t can be said that. every
where in the Mediterranean, the Red
sea and beyond, the Italians are TAX
ing an attitude Of deliberate aggression
toward all French and British inter-
ests. In addition, they are disap-
pointed by the poor results the ex-
ploration of their Abyssinian con-
quest has yielded thus far-a con-
quest which was represented to their
people as giving access to a WONDER
'ul Eldorado. They have to confess
mat the Roman Empire of old has
not been reconstructed yet-that they
nave only got a fragmentary shadow
u 1t, and that its true substance lies
N Tunis and in Egypt.
VIII the French and British govern
ments succeed in getting rid of all the
Italian and German intruders who
nave managed to secure footholds on
SPANS outlying possessions? Such is
Ine real question at stake in London
ana IN the diplomatic negotiations be-
tween the British and Italian govern
ments that Mussolini, full of doubt
ABOUT the availability of German as
Slstance, brought about toward the end
OF July The British governments
tendency is to postpone the issue until
the Winter or next SpYing. to await
the progress of the country's rearma-
ment. Meanwhile, it holds it ground.
and the Balearic Islands are very
much in its mind.
Is Temporizing Safe?
But is it safe to temporize? Were
the lutheran Reich to carry out its
poil-1erHlanSt plans in Central Eu-
rope within few months, would NOT
france and England find themselves
IN position of strategic inferiority
that could be corrected only at the
cost OF much blood and money-un-
less, OF course, they choose to give
way?
But cannot Italy, for instance, be
kept In restraint through modes of
action less complicated than counter
intervention in the Spanish civil wa-
or less dangerous than the issuance of
a direct challenge in the Mediter-
ranean which could hardly leave Mus
sollnl any means of saving his face?
Lately, the French ministers have
become aware of fact of which they
ought to have realized long ago-a
TACT OF far-reaching significance. The
paclf1cation of Abyssinia and the
spread and confirmation of Italian
authority in that country depend
upon the French railway that runs
from Adds Ababa to Djibouti. Ex-
cept for the facilities afforded by that
railway line and that harbor on the
Red Sea, no continuous flow of sy
the requisite supplies would be pss,.