Evening star., 1939-04-02

to complete subjugation OF the coun.
try-were temporarily rejected. Carol
was prepared to resist Hitler, fully con-
vinced that sacrificing hundreds of thou'
sands of his fellow citizens would result
in coercion of Germany by the combined
French-British military forces. He soor
learned that this was not the case-thai
the offer of support from Paris and
London was predicated on Russia's ane
Poland's willingness to fight. And thes(
two countries would not hear Of fight
ing alone or even in cooperation with
Britain and France. Chamberlain ant
Daladier went through the motions o.
forming bloc and summoning confer
ences. Hitler did not even deign to bl
worried. He just went ahead and did al
he had planned.
When the "mercenaries" refused II
fight, Mr.. Chamberlain reverted to hi
Munich philosophy. In pursuing thii
policy he found an able collaboration In
the French foreign secretary who be
Ieves, with Chamberlain, that q few
thousand miles of sand and primitive
port in the Red Sea are not worth
plunging France and Britain into a war
At the present moment there arr
secret negotiations between Italy on thl
one hand and France and Great Britais
on the other.
From what has transpired, it appear
that Mussolini does not intend to pres
all the Italian claims In North Africa
Following the example of his Berlin col.
league, II Duce wishes to have . blood.
less victory such as Hitler has achieved
in Central Europe. Such victory woult
be received in Italy with even greater
enthusiasm than it was in Germany.
Somalilands May Go.
While there is no definite informAtios
what the harassed French Ambassado,
in Rome may offer, 1t is believed ii
Washington diplomatic quarters that
Duce is promised Jibuti and Frencl
and British Somaliland, or parts thereof
France also is believed to be ready II
consider in spirit of friendship and
justice the italian claims on the right,
and status of her nationals In Tunisia
Mussolini's request for a share in thu
control of the Suez Canal Is beinl
granted without argument.
These negotiations, which started
quietly before Hitler's last spectacula
moves, have been followed up in recent
days and have become particularly &C.
tive since Bonnet's return to Paris ats
his powwow with Mr.. Chamberlain. Hi
is reported to have obtained from thu
British Premier the promise that Greai
Britain will do her bit in this new
appeasement adventure by consentina
to part with British Somaliland. MOI
that this colony is Of any importance
either to Great Britain or to Italy, but tn
French people must be convinced thai
the two governments will work hand ir
hand, and if one is called upon to make
a sacrifice the other will do the same
Mr.. Chamberlain was moved to consen,
to this cession, despite the resentment
it might cause in Britain, to stave of the
danger of conflict which might lead
to conference at which Hitler would
present Germany's colonial claims, which
go far beyond those of Italy. The Brit.
ish and French statesmen still hope thai
concessions to Italy may eventually lead
to detachment of Mussolini from the
axis.
Hope for q Reckoning.
military preparedness. the only possible
course Great Britain and France can
follow at the present moment is to feed
a few morsels to the dictators in the
hope that the day will come when they
will be able to face them on equal arrna.
ment footing.
For the time being 1t is difficult I'd
state whether the present menu sug-
gested to II Duce will quite appease his
hunger. The best opinion is divided on
this matter. Some say the Italian dicta.
tor will be happy to save his face and
accept these minor donations which can
be aggrandized by intelligent and skillfu
propaganda. Others say that once Great
Britain and France take the road I'd
yielding, there will be no end to the
dictators' demands.
But everybody Is unanimous in the
opinion that the key is once more in
Hitler's pocket. If Der Fuehrer thinks
that a gradual dismemberment Of the
British and French empires is preferable
to an outright showdown, Mussolini will
be satisfied with whatever is offered him.
If, on the other hand, Der Fuehrer
believes that this is the ideal moment
to settle everything once and for all,
Mussolinis demands will increase until,
Britain and France are forced into am,
other conferences Canossa worse than
Munich. -,
(Copyright. 1939)