The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-13

Meanwhile the temper of the French people has changed re- markedly since Munich. A sort of fatalism exists in France. a belief that war iS inevitable and 1t might as well come now rather than lat |. or. This was not the sentiment which prevailed two months ago, when France would have made certain concession to Italy in North Africa, though not ct the pistol point.
 The events which have caused this change are important. They constitute the unwritten diplomatic history of Europe since Munich.
 First incident in the chain of events occurred on November 28 in Rome. Rumors had cropped up with increasing frequency that when the Italian Chamber con- vened on November 90, 1t would stage q demonstration for the an- nexation of Tuns.
 I'VE WANT TUNIsw
 Finally the rumors became 70 persistent that the French Ans bassador M. Francois Poncet, could not ignore them, and on November % he asked for an in- terview with Count Ciano, MuS- solinps son.in-law and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador inquired of Ciano regarding the status of French-ftalian rela- tons, and receivede c polite reply that the only "wall" between them was Spain.
 Francois-Poncet replied that the Spanish Loyalists appeared near defeat, 50 that wall soon would bc removed. Meanwhile, he said, France had adhered very strictly to her n-intervention policy.
 The Ambassador next asked ClanO's view of the Muss0iini. Laval agreement which ceded to Italy certain strategic areas around DjIbuti, together with certain rights for Italians In TunIs. Ciano replied that Italy was merely waiting for France to ratify lhc agreement
 Francois -Poncet then pressed him to see If there was anything further troubling Prench-ftalian relations. He received c very cor- dial negative.
 So the French Ambassador walked Into the Italian Chamber two days later completely cons fident that no demonstration over Tunis was to mar ftaio- French relations, only to Dc greeted, shortly after taking his seat in the diplomatic gallery, with cries of "Tunisia! Tu. nisia!"
 At first Ambassador Francois Poncet pretended to Do deaf. Finally as the shouting continued, he leaned over to his colleagues and asked what tho shouting was about. When they told him, he reached for his hat and walked out.
 ITALIAN PISTOL
 This was the first time the pis- tol was pointed ct Frances head. The second came c few weeks later when Mussolini suddenly de- founeed the Mussoii1i Laval agreement. This was the agrees mont regarding Ttinis and DjibuH which Count Ciano had told Trancois-Pon was perfectly satisfactory to Italy.
 In den0unclng it, n Duce went out Of his way b send copies of the denuneiati0B Co both Germany and Great Dri- tain. which were not parties to the pset.
 This occurred shortly before ChambefIain's January fl visit to Rome, and t made the French sec red. What made them see even Tedder, however, was word that ChainbFlaiii, supposedly their friend, was going straight through Paris, enfotte to Rome, without even stopping ct the railroad sta. ton.
 This looked t0 the French as if their British ally was going t0 sit down with the dietator Of Italy and proceed t0 eorve up the French colonies in NoFth Aries, without 50 much as . by.yeuF-ieave tO Paris. So RFe- fpieF DslaAleF notified Cham befisin, both by telephone and