Evening star., 1939-09-27
Italy Fosters Hope
That Peace Can Be
Restored in Europe
People Represented as
Feeling Allies Have
Nothing to Gain
By WALTER DURANTY.

by WALIEh DUhANIY.
ROME, Sept. q (N.A.NA).-
Somewhat unexpectedly the Italians
have reverted to wishful thinking
that peace can be restored some
how.
Today's Messagero runs 'front.'
page banner head: "Mussolini's iron
logic leads the combatant nations
to consider possibilities still offered
tor maintenance of peace in Europe"
Mussolini's mouthpiece, Virginio
Gayda, under the captain, 'By What
Means" discusses three allied lines
Of action against Germany and
reaches the conclusion that they
are all futile. Thence he proceeds
easily and naturally to the further
conclusion that peace Is the most
sensible step.
But, as one of my italian friends
put 1t, II can't see why the fact
that the victim is dead is a reason
to do nothing against his murderer"
That is not the official viewpoint,
but there is still much freedom of
speech In Italy. My friend con-
tinued, Moreover, it is obvious
Hitler will accept no peace terms
which would allow France and Eng
land quietly to build up their air
forces to a superiority over Ger
many which is now lacking"
See Further Action Useless.
He understood point which seems
omitted from the calculations of
the Roman press, that the allies are
not fighting Hitler for Poland, but
for themselves. don't need to sug-
gest that the Italians are calloused
or indifferent to Poland's agony,
but they are so remote from it and
feel that further action can do no
one any good-except perhaps the
Russians. which is no recommended
ton in Italian eyes-that they fail
to appreciate the Franco British
position.
After ALL why should they, in this
happy, sunny country where yester-
day they celebrated with elegance,
charm and gayety the 10th annual
grape festival? Huge floats moved
through Rome to Siena, laden with
peasant boys and girls in picturesque
costumes flinging grapes to the
crowd. In the square at Siena
popular dances were held. 1t was
pleasant, lively scene, but heard a
foreigner say, Rome dances while
Warsaw burns"
Nothing could be unkinder, and,
In sense, untruer, but that bitter
phrase expressed the whole differ
ence between war and peace. Italy
is at peace and intends to remain
so if possible. and it is as unfair to
blame the Italians for their grape
festivals as to suggest an American
crowd is heartless because it goes
to q baseball game in New York or
visits the San Francisco Exhibition.
I repeat, this country isn't callous
It knows we'll what war means and
what it will mean to Europe, and
1t is far nearer war than San Fran
cisco and in far greater danger of
sbeing dragged in.
Duce Speaks Straight and Clear.
AS Gayda, for instance, sees and
expresses 1t, Europe is on the verge
Of committing suicide-for what
purpose?" Like Cassandra, he knows
they will not listen and that he and
his own country may share the doom
he prophesies. It is a tragic and
terrible situation, In which Italian
clairvoyance serves only to whet
italian anxiety.
This doesn't in the least mean that
italy faces the future without con-
fidence and courage. After a long
silence, Mussolini has spoken
straight and clear, and the whole
country feels that his hand is firm
on the tiller to steer boldly through
stormy seas. His course may require
new directives.
Italy's position is delicate, de-
pending as it does upon a sea-borne
trade for raw materials. Italy now
faces a problem not wholly unlike
that of the United States-will 1t
sell on 'cash-and- basis and
will it sell this or that? The differ
ence is, Italy depends in a large
measure on its sea-borne trade to
buy materials for whatever it may
sell. Americas decision, therefore,
must have great importance here,
not merely as a rule and precedent,
but because it will show how the
greatest neutral of all defines and
understands neutrality.