Evening star., 1939-09-25
Italy Is Described
As Sincere in Wish
For Neutrality

\uttoH Wuy EVEN DC
Laying Foundations
For Balkan Bloc
BY WALTER DURANTY.
ROME, Sept. Is N.A.N.A).-
Italy's attitude looks much clearer
In Rome than 1t did from Paris or
London. It can be summed up in
one word-neutrality-to which
might be added the qualification,
with malice toward none"
That is the essence of the clear
but ardent speech in which II Duce
broke his long silence, maintained
since last March. Never was the
Italian genius for clarity and rea-
son better expressed than in this
speech. which sees the futility and
horror of war, yet realizes that moth
ing save miracle can avert con-
flict which, as Mussolini says, has
not yet fully begun.
In the last three days, the Italian
press has been playing up the head
line War Without Object" arguing
that it is fantastic to plunge Eu-
rope into slaughter for "the impos-
sible task of restoring Poland to
Its pre-war boundaries and SOW
ereignty." With singular uniform
ity, the Italian press attributed no
blame to Germany, nor did it sug-
gest that the allies were insane to
continue the war for Poland's sake,
but it declared with quiet insistence
that "all the kings horses and all
the kings men cannot put Humpty-
Dumpty together again." and, there
fore, asked whether the game is
worth the candle.
Blow to Peace Move.
Foreign circles in Rome were in
clined to regard this as the opening
gun in the long-heralded peace Of
fensive," but whatever hopes were
entertained here in that direction
received shattering blow from the
partition of Poland. About Russia,
Italy has no illusions. and is itself
far too realistic to attribute to Rus
sia any aims now or in the future
save those of cold-blooded self
interest.
Rome understands that it may
be to Germany's benefit to present
Russia as its partner in an unholy
alliance against the Western capital
.Ast democracies, but Rome looks also
at the maps and notes what star
ting price the Russians already have
claimed for adherence to pact with
Germany. A common frontier hence
forth with Germany, occupation OF
the Polish oil fields, red barrier
between German Poland and Ru-
mania and Hungary may well be
items Germany did not contemplate
when it signed the original bill.
But least of all nations, as II Duce's
speech showed. the Italians indulge
In wishful thinking, and do not allow
themselves to overlook the possibili-
ties that may arise from Russia's
action. It is idle to deny that
thought of Russian invasion of Bes-
sarabia is far from welcome here.
There is all the difference in the
World between a partition OF Poland
that cannot fail to contain the germs
of future conflict between Slav and
Teuton and the revival of militant
Pan-Slavism in the Balkans.
Would Set Balkans Aflame.
It is not thought here that such
a contingency Is probable. but the
mere idea is more than uncomfort-
able, because it would hardly fail to
set the whole of the Balkans aflame,
and where then would be the hopes
for neutrality, not only for the
Balkan states, but perhaps for Italy,
too?
Even before II Duce's speech, it
was clear that this country was no
less sincere than the United States
in its stand for neutrality. Neither
the Italian nation nor its army have
much sympathy for Adolf Hitlers
dream OF European hegemony.
There has been absurd exaggera-
ton, not to stay deliberate lying, in
reports published abroad before the
outbreak of war about the domi-
nance of the Gestapo in Italian
affairs or the presence of German
troops on italian soil. Perhaps there
is a section of hot-headed youth
which allowed itself to be dazzled
by grandiose visions, but such a
group is representative neither of
the Italian people nor the govern
ment.
Italy's cline" is shown by the
amicable arrangements with Greece
to withdraw troops from the Greco
Albanian frontier. That arrange
ment is meant by Italy, and accept
ed by Greece, as pledge not merely
of Italy's desire for neutrality, but
of its hope that other Balkan coun-
tries would take notice and under
stand.
May Ask Neutral Bloc.
It doubtless is too much and too
soon to say that Italy aims at for
nation of neutral Balkan bloc, but
to suggest that the foundations are
being laid for something of the sort
is neither premature nor exagger-
ated.
Which gives, therefore, vast i'm
portance to Soviet intentions. Rome
sees them three ways-Russia is
driving the hardest of bargains with
Germany and already has made it
clear it will grab what it can where
it can, but does not, at least now,
want war or bellicose adventures;
second, Russia still is playing a lone
hand, but intends to play it hot
and heavy in the Baltic and Bal
kans alike on the lines of the new
Soviet imperialism; third, Russia
and Germany are united in spirit
and purpose to smash the French
and British empires and take what
epoils they can. Neither point two
rvclll ~