Evening star., 1938-03-14
AM|TY WITH REICH
|S|TAL|AN POLICY
Disadvantages Written Off
as Price for Sharing in
DiCtat0rS' Success.
By SIR ARTHUR WILLERT.


ROME. March Ii ON.A.NA).-
Various things account for the calm
ness of the Italian reception of Hit
ler's pounce upon Austria.
Much As Italy might have liked
Austria to remain an independent
buffer between herself and Austria's
powerful neighbor. she recognizes the
futility Of protests against an accom-
phshed fact.
She wants to remain on good terms
with Germany. She philosophically
realizes that whatever disadvantages
her new situation may bring must be
regarded as the price to be paid for
her share in the successes which the
dctatorships had over the Western
democracies in recent years So far,
Italy had drawn full dividends from
these successes. She has got Ethiopia
and counts for far more in the world
than she did a short time ago Now
1t is Germany's turn to exploit the
,political weakness of France and the
obvious determination of England not
to interfere actively on behalf OF law
snd order east of the Rhine in Europe.
War Danger Discounted.
Finally, the shrewd brains which
control Italian policy doubtless realize
that there is not much danger of war
arising out of Hitler's latest week
end coup.
This does not mean that Rome Is
as comfortable in its mind as the tone
Of the press would indicate. The
Italians do not like the prospect OF
having the Nazi expansionists in Aus
tria cheek by jowl with the Italian
Tyrol Nor do they like the prospect
Of a further increase of German in
fiuence in the countries near the
Adriatic. And if Hitler's present move
is expected to pass off peacefully. there
is considerable nervousness regarding
his next move.
It is feared that Hitler may soon
try to bring Czechoslovakia under his
thumb. 1t is realized here, as else
where. that that might be quite
different business from the Austrian
venture. IL 10 EOilltCd ouO SAioo VIZ
Czechs are a virile nation with
strong army and that they have been
intimating lately that they do not
propose to yield to Germany without
struggle France, moreover, has a
defensive treaty with the Czechs,
whereas her only treaty obligation to
Austria is under the defunct treaty OF
Versailles. And if France invaded Ger
many after Germany had attacked
Czechoslovakia, the danger of general
war would be obvious.
Berlin Believed Against War.
It is. therefore. satisfactory to find
that the Italians, who have studied
the German mind closely, are inclined
to question the soundness of this nerv-
business. They believe that Berlin is
as anxious to avoid big war as any
one and has gone into Austria only
because it knew that the indignation
caused by this action would be con-
fined to words. They think that if it
decides to tackle the tougher Czech
nut at all, it will do so in ways which
would make it difficult for France to
march. They see in Russia's interest
in an independent Czechoslovakia an
otner reason for their judgment.
In the meantime, Italys course of
action is fairly clear. While keeping
the Rome-Berlin relationship intact
she would evidently like to minimize
the disparity between her strength
and prestige and those of Germany
by developing her relations with Eng
land and, if possible, with France. The
best proof of this is that her talks
with England continued Saturday un-
troubled by news from the north.
Copyright. 1898. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance IncJ