Evening star., 1939-04-02
1talo>French Colonial Issue
Held Major Crisis in Europe
Until Poland Stood Firm Against Reich, 1t Seemed
Paris Might Have to Surrender
to Romes Demands
Bv Constantine Br01Un.

~ ~ OSsS'SS
The saber rafting now occurring in
Europe is obscuring somewhat what is
believed to be actually the main issue ~
the European continent-the contro-
versy between Italy and France for
colonial readjustment.
Until Poland took stand against
Germany and showed an unmistakable
determination to put stop to Hitler
expansionist movement toward the East
by fighting whether the Reich has
strong military force or not, it looked
as if the French would have to yield to
Italy's stubborn demands which II Duce
summed up in <hese words: "Tunisia
Jibuti, Suez."
President Lebrun, accompanied by
Foreign Secretary Georges Bonnet, went
to London on March 81 to return King
Georges visit of July, 1888. Both visits
accidentally or otherwise, occurred dur
ing periods of unsual tension. King
George was in Paris shortly before the
Czecho-Slovak crisis. M. Lebrun arrived
in London few days after the British
timations of what Mussolini would de-
mand of France to appease Italy's "legit-
innate aspirations in Africa
On both occasions momentous deci-
sions were made. During the royal visit
to Paris, the agreement reached on April
27, 1898. in London to sacrifice Czecho-
Slovakia was confirmed. During Lebrun' s
visit France agreed to make the neces-
sary sacrifices to appease Italy, provided
Mussolini's demands do not grow in pro-
portion with the disposition of the
French to yield.
This appeasement policy would have
been impossible had the French Cham
Der not invested Premier Daladier with
dictatorial powers until next November
Until then he remains the unchallenge-
able ruler of France.
Might Yield Territory.
In December, 1898, and again in Janu-
ary, 1899, the question Of Frances reach
ing compromise with Italy on the basis
of some territorial concessions was dis
cussed between Paris and London. Dalai
dier and Bonnet were adamant. explain
ing that they would be overthrown ir
less than "a hours by their supporters in
the Chamber should they announce that
France is yielding an inch Of her terri
tory at pistol point.
The situation has now changed There
is no longer parliamentary control In
Paris. AS the sequel of the war scare in
Europe since Hitler's conquest of the
remnants of CZecho-Slovakia, Daladier
was given powers which will enable him
to avoid war and, probably, defeat.
The decree law government which
exists in France today gives the govern
ment sweeping authority. For instance
freedom of the press has been greatly
restricted. One Of the decree laws gov
erning the publication of newspapers
contains a paragraph banning articles
attacking heads of foreign governments.
When Baron Won Ribbentrop visited
Paris IN December 1888. to sign the
non-aggression pact with his French
colleague, he demanded that all news
paper attacks against Hitler cease.
Bonnet said he wished he could stop
them, but as French law guaranteed
freedom of the press, his political life
with Parliament in session would not be
worth a red cent if he dared interfere.
The decree law system enabled Bonnet
to appease "his colleague in Berlin"
Press Now Controlled.
Another paragraph controls discussion
of racial and theological problems. This
will stem the anti-Semitic tide evident
In number of French newspapers, but
also enables the government to conceal
from the public certain aspects of the
fight in other countries against totali-
tartan methods. For example: Last fall
M. Bonnet was much irked by the atti-
tude of the American papers and GER
tain public officials regarding the results
OF the Munich pact. He could do little
about 1t, except plead with the official
press agency to prevent publication of
unfavorable dispatches from the United
States. Under the new law if President
Roosevelt were to say something which
the French government thought deroga-
tory to its interests, the French news
papers could not carry the story.
The decision of the French and British
governments to meet Mussolini's demands
with smile and "let's see what we can
do about it" followed the temporary re-
versal of Mr.. Chamberlain's appease-
ment policy indicated in his speech Of
March II at Birmingham.
The septuagenarian British Premier
thought that the mere announcement
that Britain was scrapping her appease-
ment policy would rally the rest of Eu-
rope to stop Hitler" movement. Cham
berlain still believed that money always