Evening star., 1938-12-11

The noisy demand in the Italian Par
lament for French territories came as
no surprise to Washington. But the tim
ing, just when efforts are being made in
Washington to have Mussolini see
clearly into the future" and to make
him realize that there can be greater
permanency in the friendship Of the
democratic states than in That of super
imperialistic Germany, did surprise
many.
It is known with certainty that Hitler
promised his Rome colleague long before
Munich that, If all German aspirations
regarding Czecho- -Slovakia were satisfied,
Italy's turn to develop her own terri
torial ambitions would follow.
This promise, 1t is reliably reported,
was made when Hitler sent his forces
into Austria, and was repeated late in
September, when a war for Czecho-Slo-
vakia seemed imminent. It forms part
of the unpublished agreement between
the two dictators, whereby Germany is
to establish herself as the premier power
in Europe, while Italy is to re-establish
the Roman African Empire.
Tunisia is the first step toward the
italian goal. This French protectorate
has larger number of italian nationals
than French. Mussolini claims that
since Tunis is protectorate, not COL
ony, there is no reason why its powerless
ruler, the Bey, should not be placed un-
der the supervision of Rome instead of
fakinO 6iraNtinv,c
had been discussed informally between
Mussolini and Pierre Laval when the
latter was premier in 1894 A vague
agreement regarding the maintenance of
the nationality of the Italian residents
in Tunisia was concluded then, satisfac-
tory to II Duce, but was never put into
force because of the Ethiopian war.
Italy's Spoils Meager So Far.
Between January, 1884, and December
1888, many things have changed. The
most radical development has been the
formation of the Rome Berlin Toxic
axis with the avowed purpose of the
have nots' to expand territorially. The
japanese and the Germans have taken
the cream. Italy has obtained SKINNED
lillian, 4SAoC4VC4y, AL CllC VI CIlllOpld
which she considers has been conquered
with nothing more than vague moral sup
port from her present allies.
The December manifestation in the
Italian Parliament was the opening gun
IN the new campaign, which Hitler prom
ised he would support. Despite the fan
fare with which Mussolini has initiated
his Sfnniet TYoe
is not particularly alarmed.
For several weeks President Roosevelt
and his advisers have treated Mussolini
with kid gloves. It is felt in responsible
quarters here that II Due is like a recalci-
trant boy who has become involved with
an undesirable gang, but who with ear
nest and considerate treatment may be
citizen" The British under the Eden
tenure and the French under Blum did
not understand how to handle the Ital-
ian dictator. They bullied the bully, a
practice which all educators agree does
not work. Then suddenly the British
and French governments reversed their
policies. Thes began to cajole and fiat
wa AAAAo 40 SSAAoAuClCu llSlc dS eQudlly
il-advised, since it,may be interpreted as
fear and lack of sincerity. Mussolini lis
tened to the cajoling arguments of
Messrs. Chamberlain Halifax and Dala-
dler, bit he could see nothing tangible
to compensate him for a change in pol
icy. He may distrist-even dislike-Der
Fuehrer. But there is a bond between
the fUn ~ v1,I,;
perative that they stick together-for
the present.
Fears Well-Known Double Cross.
II one scratches the surface, however,
one finds that the realistic Mussolini
would be willing to talk business with
the democratic countries if he were
convinced that they are not trying to
hand out the Well-known European
double-cross. The British and French
will have hard time to convince the
Italian leader of their sincerity. Musso-
ini can remind them that Italy Joined
the allies in the World War with the
understanding that parts of Turkey,
including Smyrna, would be given her,
but the allies awarded the territory to
Greece. That Greece failed to hold the
award is another matter. Later, Pierre
Laval and Ramsay Macdonald, speaking
as Prime Ministers of their respective
countries, encouraged Mussolini at Stresa
in the spring of 1894 to go ahead with
his Ethiopian plans. Again he was
double-crossed
The European democracies have made
600 90 600 in dividends IInadillsted "a