Evening star., 1938-12-11
u. S. May Convince Mussolini
Peace Pays Best Dividends
Rome.Berln Axis Held Effective Only So Long
sit Holds Out Assured Gains Without
RuinOus War
By Constantine Brown.


every mistake in the calendar that could
impugn their good faith. The result
has been the Rome-Berlin axis. Now
Chamberlain's declarations of love and
Bonnet's willingness to resume cordial
relations are being met with chary
skepticism. Mussolini believes in Cham
berlain, but wonders what will happen
II the present British Premier resigns
and is replaced by Anthony Eden, Win
ston Churchill or Capt. Atlee, head of
the Labor party. The answer is that
Chamberlain is not Britain; that public
opinion in England, as in all democratic
states, can force the policy of its leaders;
Britain's policy today for reconciliation
with Italy may be reversed tomorrow.
But II Duce seems to have confidence
in the United States, despite the virulent
attacks from the press and public lead
ers He apparently feels that this coun-
try is following a policy as realistic
despite its emotional veneer-as that Of
totaitarian state. In private conver-
sations II Duce is reported to have
maintained that the anti-Hitler attitude
of the American people is due to their
understanding that in the not too distant
future Germany will challenge us in
South America. He is also reported to
be gratifled that he is no longer the
target of as many offensive remarks from
the American press as in the past. He
attributes this to Government inter-
veption.
The unusual honors accorded Cardinal
Mundelein during the latter's visit to
Rome must not be overestimated, but
they have their Importance The car
dinal spent some time in Washington
with President Roosevelt before leaving
for Rome. His mission, despite official
statements to the contrary, was not ex-
clusively to attend the beatifcation of
the first American saint-Mother Ca
brini. That beatification had nothing to
do with Mussolini or Count Galeazzo
Ciano. Yet Mussolini's foreign minister
attended the official dinner Ambassador
Phillips gave in honor of the cardinal
and spent some time in private CONVEX
sation with the Archbishop of Chicago.
That II Duce may see positive advan-
tages from cooperation with the United
States for the pacfication of the world
is likely.
The Italian leader has been warned
by American sources that further ter
ritorial expansion in Africa could be
achieved only by another war-this time
with first-class power. Even if the
French people were willing to yield Tunis
without fighting, war would inevitably
follow such expansion, these sources have
pointed out. War with major power,
even if it ended with victory for Italy,
would weaken her considerably, and who
can guarantee that in the end his coun-
try would not be deprived of their World
| War spoils?
There is no doubt that Mussolini
knows that Hitler's program calls for the
reunion Of all German-speaking people
under one rule. There are many Aus
trians in the provinces Italy acquired as
result Of the Austro- German defeat
in 1918. While Hitler is consolidating the
new Reich there is little likelihood of
his raising the question of the Germans
in Italy or in Rumania or in France.
But when the German expansionist
movement has been completed; when
Goering's four-year economic plan has
succeeded when Germany becomes the
| foremost nation in Europe, Herr Hitler
might say: you have acquired enough
land in Africa. Give me as a token of
friendship those portions of Austria
which you took in 1919"
Though II Duce is not needing these
warnings at present, there is no doubt
that they register.
Many Gains to Be Consolidated.
On the other hand. suggestions are
being made that Italy can gain more by
developing what she has already OBJ
tanned by force than by embarking on
new adventures; that Ethiopia might be,
after all. the promised land of the
Italians, if properly exploited. It is
whispered to those close to II Duce that
in the United States there are companies
with between billion and billion and
a half dollars ready to place their idle
money in Ethiopia if they were certain
Italy would not become entangled in new
adventures. These concerns await only
the green light of the State Department s
approval.
Even the matter of the recognition
OF the King of Italy as Emperor of
Ethiopia could eventually be arranged.
II Duce knows that the principle of
non-recognition of territories acquired
by force of arms must be maintained
by the United States Government. But
there are indications that even this diff.
| f1culty might be overcome in the process
Of concluding new commercial and