Evening star., 1939-01-14
Pessimism Rules
Interpretation Of
Rome Conversation
Britons Failed to Win
Duce to Waive Claims
Against France

Against France
PARIS, Jan. IA iNAN.A).-The
results Of the Anglo Italian conver.
sations in Rome are being inter.
preted pessimistically here in COM
petent quarters.
Prime Minister Chamberlain and
Foreign Secretary Halifax of Great
Britain conspicuously failed to per.
suade Premier Mussolini to waive
all territorial claims against France
and to instruct the Italian press to
tone down its articles.
Interlandi, editor Of the Italian
newspaper Tevere, who today, to
abuse the French nation, made use
OF rough phrases seldom equaled
IN the past, must not be regarded
as an irresponsible journalist. Some
years ago, a high official Of the
press ministry having criticized him
on account of his vehemence, he was
able to answer that on the same
morning II Duce had congratulated
and encouraged him.
Refused to Renew Promise.
AS far as Spain is concerned, 1t
Is reported that, for the first time,
the Italian ruler and his foreign
minister refused, despite. British
pressure, to renew the promise en-
bodied in the gentlemen's agreement
OF January 2, 1887, and in the Anglo
Italian treaty of April 16, 1888, that
Italian legionaires should be with
drawn from Spain as soon as the
republican armies had been routed
on the battlefield. It would appear
that bolshevism will have to be ex.
trpated first before an end can be
put to Fascist Intervention in the
civil war, according to an elastic
form OF words whereby Italy will
remain free to maintain her troops
ana technicians for an indefinite
period wherever she likes In the
Spanish domain.
Lord Halifax was deeply depressed
last night, following the talk he had
mad with Count Ciano on the SUBJ
)ect OF Spain. He and the foreign
once experts surrounding him fully
reallzed then what they had sus-
pected for a long while-that
through the conciliatory method
dear to Mr.. Chamberlain. the stra
teglcal equilibrium in existence prior
10 the civil war was hardly likely
ever to be re-established in the
Mediterranean.
Can't Take Assurance Seriously.
IN such circumstances, the assur.
ance given by Mussolini to Mr..
chamberlain that the cause of Eli
ropean peace means a good deal to
MN cannot be taken very seriously.
Inc Anglo-1talian communioue re-
leased after the exchanges of views
were over must not be taken at face
value. Its true significance is that
Mr.. Chamberlain did not want to
advertise to the whole world that a
blow had been struck at his per-
sonal policy Of all-around pacifca-
ton, OF which he thought that the
starting point could be found In
Rome.
French Foreign Minister Bonnet
Will meet Lord Halifax in Geneva
on Sunday and hear from him a
1ulI report about what has taken
place. All probabilities are that M
Bonnet will endeavor to demon.
strate to Halifax that things can
not be left where they are and that
reassertion of the Anglo-Italiau
treaty. the distinctive feature of the
communlque, can hardly be recon-
cleo, owing to Italys attitude OF
open hostility toward France, with
the Keen sense of the western DOW
ers' solidarity that now obtains
among most Frenchmen and Eng
liShmen.
The French government and
French public opinion are more and
more inclined to lend support to the
Barcelona republic. The delivery to
Republican Spain of $4,000 tons OF
Hour only marks a timid beginning
IN that direction. That initial step
mas been exceeded already.
Up to France and Briton.
1t remains to be seen whether Mr.
Chamberlain will follow suit, O,
cling to the outworn, out-of date
and discredited formulas of So
called non-intervention. Assuming II
is too late in the day and the Spanish
republic cannot be saved from dis
aster "a point military authorities
will have to investigated, it is felt
that Gen. Franco and Britain mus,
find means of expressing a resolve
to uphold the territorial and DO
) litical status quo in and around the
Mediterranean.
German and Italian cooperation
arranged as early as December s
upon Mussolini's repeated request
bids fair to be all the closer shoulc
the Paris and London cabinets dis.
play hesitation and discord.
On the whole, the journey of Mr.
Chamberlain and Lord Halifax te
Rome fully compares with the 50.
journ OF former British Foreign Sec.
retary Anthony Eden in the same
capital in June, 1885. Mr.. Eder
strove at that time to dissuade Mus.
solini from starting war agains,
Ethiopia in the same way as MIR
Chamberlain and Lord Halifax hav'
endeavored since Wednesday to curl
| II Duce's incipient action against
France. To recall that precedent /!
to show which course of policy ough'
! to be adopted and which ought t.
be avoided.