Evening star., 1938-05-09
Veni, Xidi. Wei.

Events rather than meaningless off,
clal compliments and bouquets ex-
changed between Hitler and Mussolini.
alone will reveal the results of last weeks
NaA-Fascist theatricals at Rome In.
splred statements by Der Fuehrer's en-
tourage. as we'll as the toasts of mutual
fidelity" at II Duces state dinners in
Palazzo Venezia Saturday night, are in
tended at least to persuade an incred-
ulous Europe that the Rome Berlin axis
emerges intact from the Communicating
OF the dlctators. In their own joint post
prandial words, the alliance was COM
pleted and sealed
If time confirms this euphonious
epitome of Hitler's trans-Alpine expedi-
ton, 1t will mean that the Fascist auto
Gratis decided that one good steal deserves
another. The cycle swings into full
circle. Italy took Ethiopia. Germany
acqulesced. Germany absorbed Austria.
Italy, despite the Brenner, approved,
Hitler proclaims all-time German respect
for 1talys title to the former Austrian
Tyrol. Mussolini lets it be understood
that Nazi designs on Czechoslovakia will
encounter no interference from Rome.
Thus, while the Reich's hope of an out
rlght German-1talian military alliance
to match the new defensive Anglo
French Army, Navy and air pact has not
been gratified-though, also as to this.
only developments will tell-the Hitlerites
seem to have accomplished the interna-
tlonal purpose at presents nearest to
their hearts, namely, the obtaining of
a free hand as far as Italy is concerned.
in Central Europe.
Prime Minister Chamberlains domestic
political critics, opposing his zeal to
bundle with the dictators, hold that the
weakest point in his program is the utter
unreliability of their pledges. The
charge, as respects Mussolini, is sup
ported by the notorious grudge he harbors
against London for British conduct in
the Ethiopian aggression. eliminating
with the Eden sanctions" Rcme's de-
mand for the former foreign secretary's
dismissal as the price of an Anglo-Italian
accord spoke volumes. That the deep
seated resentment generated by per-
fidious Albion fingers cannot be doubted,
That II Duce does not shrink from
double crossing the Western democracies
by giving Hitler carte blanche in Czecho-
sloVakia is evidenced clearly enough by
the outcome of Der Fuehrers Roman
holiday.
AS Caesar reported to his friends on
the T1ber after the Asia Minor campaign,
it looks very much as if his pinchback
successor on the Spree could bulletin
that he, too, LAST week came, saw and
conquered. 1t is devoutly to be hoped
there will be no gratuitous White House
outgiving heralding this latest triumph
of peaceful negotiations" as something
worthy Of American acclaim. After
stamping the Ethiopian annexation and
the Fascist invasion of Spain with i'm
piled approval, any Washington okay of
Nazi rape of Czechoslovakia would be,
to put it mildly, just little too much.
If this Government feels it must take
hand in Europe's current dark lantern
diplomacy, let it say what the people
of the United States feel-that NaN
subjugation of the Prague republic would
be offensive to every sense of right and
justice and constitute international
brigandage which democracies every
where would resent.