Evening star., 1938-07-24
Ellropes s Mystery Man
What Is Mussolins Role in the Rome Berlin Axis?
By JOHN EVANS,
Correspondence of the Associated Pre-

agreement with Adolf Hitler or exactly
what he intends to do.
Italy proclaimed her neutrality in the
German threats against Czechoslovakia
but Europe looks to the future.
1t wonders and fears what Mussolini and
Hitler might do if they worked together.
Each has a 100000 -Snan army and q
complete, well-oiled war machine.
This Mussolni- Hitler cooperation is the
Rome Berlin axis" 1t is working agree
ment, made October 25, 1886. How close
it is and how well or how long it will work
is the puzzle.
Italians never have loved Germany and
Fascists don't pretend they love Germany
now. They declare they have faith in
Mussolini to protect Italian interests in any
political arrangement with Germany and
they leave to time the mission Of making
the friendship solid and workable or de-
stroying it,
Italy wanted an independent Austria be-
cause Germany was too big and too strong
a neighbtr for comfort
Italians :'e didn't want any of Italy but the
average stalan shows little enthusiasm for
the neM reighbor. What comforts the
Italian i* that he knows Mussolini realizes
all this AID is or his guard
Ha.e Confidence in Britain.
Although Italy almost went to war with
Britain in the 1885 quarrel over Ethiopia,
Italians still 1avs confidence in her that
made the whnle population show real ap-
proval when Muasolini and Prime Min
ister Neville Chamberlain Of England made
their peace April is in the year
squa bible about withdrawal Of foreign troops
from Spain where Mussolini had about
$4,000 men. a couple Of hundred airplanes
at time and much war material to help
insurgent Gen. Francisco Franco.
Germany and Italy are the two big dis
satisfied "have nots" Of the l9l4-19l8
World War. Germany was defeated and
stripped of colonies and part Of the home
land.
Now she has come back to power.
italy was on the winning side. but felt
she was treated badly by Great Britain and
France. later grievance was the eco
nomic siege Of Italy by Britain and 81
other League of Nations countries.
Germany helped Italy during this mass
effort to compel Mussolin to abandon his
conquest Of Ethiopia which started Octo-
Der 3, 1885. Mussolini afterwards said
Italy never would forget her friends or her
enemies.
Want to Break Up Friendship.
Great Britain and France are armine
against threat OF war they fear over
Hitler's designs on CzechosIovakia Italy
isn't involved directly in that. but Britain
and France want to break up the Mussolini-
Hitler friendship They recognize the
power of the two if they should pool their
interests.
The war threat lies in Hitlers announced
intention to take under his wing the s.
100000 Germanc minority in Czechoslo.
vakia. Whether that means moral support
or territorial annexatio is unsettled. Ir
the case of the 100000 Austrian Germans
Hitler took over the country March 13
Britain. France and others think thai
method might be repeated.
Neither Mussolini nor Hitler has de.
clared plainly exactly what the axis
means Oficial and unofficial interpreta
tions indicate Hitler was given a fairly
free hand in Southeastern Europe and
Mussolini got some sort of approval of his
Mediterranean plan
Caesars once owned the sea and it.
shores. but Britain has come to regard il
as somewhat her own private property be.
cause she has Gibraltar at the western en-.
trance and controls the Suez Canal in the
east. Her policy Is to protect her "roac
to India through this sea which Ital,
once called Mare Nostrum' (Our Sea-
a title that has been revived
Surprised at Hitler's Action.
People in many countries thought Mus.
solini got poor treatment from Hitler wher
the latter took Austria. Previously. Jul,
IS. 1884. Italy modified troops on the Aus.
trian border to protect that country's indie.
pendence when Austrian Nazis killec
Chancellor Engelbert Dolfuss and Ger.
many was supposed to plan to seize The
country as she did four years later.
Well-informed Fascsts admit Mussolin
was surprised at Hitlers sudden seizure O
Austria. So were Germans, Austrians ant
the world. One explanation is that Hitle
didn't plan annexation Immediately, bu
took possession instantly when he met n,
resistance.
Hitler got Austria.
What will Mossolini get?
Fascists who ought to know say the,
doubt If there is any bargain One inter.
probation of the Rome Berlin axis" is tha,
it is trial of new plan for peace in Europ,
and Italian expansion.
This theory is that Mussolini acted or
broad general lines like this:
l. Italy paid her debt to Germany fo
German support during the 1s35-1sse eco
nomic siege by 50 countries. Mussolini wa!
grateful to Hitler for his help
2. Italy looks toward power and expan
sion through future domination of the Med
iterranean Sea. replacing Britain there
Italy recognizes Germany has more claim
than she to run Southeastern Europe.
al