Evening star., 1938-02-25
Member Of the Associated Press
Pax Romano,

1t was a grimly significant gesture
that the Earl of Perth, British Ambas-
sador to Italy, made at the railway
station in Rome on Wednesday as he
left for London. To the crowds gathered
around his train to see him off the
London envoy raised his right arm in
the approved Fascist style and saluted
them as long as they were in sight.
Thus rose the curtain on the first act
IN the Anglo-Italian tragedy which his
tory will record as the Pax Romano
proud Britain's kow-tow to Mussolini
as the price of peace between the mis-
tress of the seas" and the titan of
the Tiber.
AS Lord Perth arrives in Downing
street today for consultation with Prime
Minister Chamberlain on that now or
never deal with Italy which led to
Foreign Secretary Eden's fall, Count
Dino Grandi II Duces envoy to Great
Britain, is approaching Rome, laurel
crowned, for conference with his own
chief. The conditions on which con-
current negotiations will proceed in the
two capitals are already known, in
essential outline. On their face they
bear a semblance of mutual give-and-
take. x-rayed, they strongly suggest
that Mussolini is embarking upon a
genteel program of international extor-
t1on. Almost every concession he
prof1ers is veiled proposal merely to
discontinue practice which will ir-
ritate the British or endanger their in
terests until it is checked. Blackmail
may be too harsh an epithet to apply
to 1taly's strategy, but it is brother un-
der the skin to the persuasive tactics
which comprise the racketeers code of
ethics.
First Of all. Mussolini seeks recoeni-
ton of the Ethiopian conquest con-
cession which would go far beyond mere
diplomatic recognition because 1t would
sanction aggression. The dictator also
Graves an agreement to grant belligerent
rights to both Spanish factions; an un-
derstanding about British naval bases
IN the Mediterranean, and either a share
in control of the Suez Canal or a guar
antee OF its neutrality in case of war.
1t such concessions by Britain would
not actually convert the great Middle
Sea into that Mare Nostrum," or Italian
lake, which Fascism claims, they would
at least give Rome a position in the
Meolterranean equivalent to domina-
tlon. Britain would. henceforth, be
astride her vaunted and vital life line"
70 India virtually on Italian sufferance.
Compared to the bread he asks, II
Duce holds out stone. He offers a
promise not to take any Spanish ter
r1tory in case Of Frances victory or
otherwise to disturb the penfnsulas
status. He would undertake to cease
anti-British propaganda in the Moslem
world; to withdraw some Italian troops
from heavily garrisoned Libya, where
their presence is threat to Egypt and
the Anglo Egyptian Sudan; to limit the
recruiting of native Ethiopian army
to fixed maximum, and, generally, to
abstain from stirring up trouble for
the British Empire in Africa and the
Near East.
1t Is not certain that this Pax Romano
will be unquestioningly accepted by Mr..
Chamberlain. He is said to insist that
any arrangement with Italy leave
Britain's entente with France unim-
paired; provide for proportionate with
drawal Of foreign troops from Spain
preceding any assent to belligerent
rights; be part Of a general European
"appeasement." comprehending Britain,
France, Italy and Germany and be sub
mitted to the League of Nations.
Hitler's Austrian coup may prove
double-edged development in the i'm
pending duel for an Anglo Italian deal.
Accession Of Nazi power in Central
Europe undoubtedly whets Chamber
Jams anxiety for an arrangement with
Mussolini. It also puts pressure on the
Fascists to come to terms with Britain,
Were less Of peace-at-any-pric fog
now enveloping the realistic" Thames.
and more Of the spirit which animates
the descendants Of Nelson and Yelling
ton when they sing that "Britons never.
never, never will be slaves" there might
be hope that 1t will not be the former
title holder who will succumb in the
heavyweight contest for the champion
ship Of the Mediterranean. As things
stand. the odds are on the challenger.