Evening star., 1939-09-10

AS the a1rplaneS are roaring over VIC
cities of Poland, British and French
diplomats are making frantic efforts in
Rome to induce Premier Mussolini to
stage another "1915" and turn against
his Berlin ally.
The brusque attack against Poland was
a surprise to the British and the French.
Only "a hours before it occurred there
were hopes that some compromise might
be reached. The Poles had intimated in
London and in Paris that they would
talk to the Germans on an equality basis
even if they had to send special pleni-
potentiary to Berlin. They were not
going to give up their independence, they
said, but were prepared to meet any
sensible proposals the Reichfuehrer
might suggest.
Then the Germans attacked without
giving time for the British to continue
their efforts for compromise.
The reason for this was that Italy was
listening to the French and the British
diplomats The French had been con-
vinced by the British that some con-
cessions should be made to Mussolini in
order to checkmate Hitler and offset the
effect of the diplomatic defeat they had
suffered at the hands of Stain
1t was difficult for the Daladier cabinet
to swallow the pill and give up French
territory to the Italians. But the British
pointed out the difference between yield
ing colonial ground to Mussolini under
direct threat and concessions" in order
to wean Italy from the Axis.
Firm Offers Reported Made.
On August 80 and 81 the French and
the British Ambassadors to Rome saw
Foreign Minister Galeazzc Ciano several
times. They are said to have made firm
offers. Their arguments and offers were
listened to because the anti-war feeling
among the Italian people was increasing
in proportion with the dangers of an i'm
minent war.
Won Mackensen, Germany's Ambassa-
dor at the Quirinal, telephoned Berlin
about these new and unexpected devel-.
opments. Hitler decided that he had no
time to lose and he had better place Italy
before an accomplished fact. The Ger
man troops were ordered to invade
Poland
Hitler, in his speech of September l.,
assured the Italians that Germany could
do the job single-handed and did not
need Italy's active military support. This
was true since the Reich counts on the
Soviet Armies in case of need against
Poland. But the principal reason for
the courteous though somewhat cool
message of the Fuehrer to his side-kick
people that they would not have to fight
to help Germany get Poland.
AS things stand now, the Germans
have not yet contemplated putting into
effect the secret military agreement with
the U. S. S. R. This agreement pro-
vides for the invasion of Latvia, Estonia,
Llthuania and Poland by the Soviet
Armies in the event Germany is forced
to withdraw some of her troops to meet
any menace on her western front In
keeping with this agreement the Soviet
high command has transferred some
thing like 20 divisions in the last three
weeks from the interior to the Riga
Russian forces in that region to about
1900 900 men.
Efforts in Rome Continued.
In the meantime, the French and Brit
ish diplomats are continuing their ef-
forts in Rome.
The Quai d'Orsay and Downing street
know that the Italian nation lives in a
funk lest this war for Poland" might
involve it in catastrophe The Ital-
ians were bellicose enough when there
was question of fighting the Ethiopians
or even the Spanish republicans. These
were comparatively unimportant wars
with no serious danger to the welfare
of Italy itself. But the emotional Ital-
ians realize what general war may
mean to them-even if the axis were
victorious. They know that Italy is more
vulnerable than Germany both by sea
and land.
The British and the French govern
ments intend to exploit this psychology
| of the Italian masses to their advantage
and hope to induce Mussolini to make a
turn-about movement which would
greatly increase the chances of victory
for the allies and also shorten the war
The offers made to the italian gov
ernment on August 80 and 81 consisted
in the cession of Jibuti, an active par
ticipation of Italy in the administration
OF the Suez Canal, with correspond
ing reduction of the tolls paid by Italian
ships going through the canal, and a
readjustment of the Italian-Tripoli-
tanian frontier by the addition of q
part of Southern Tunisia
There is deep suspicion in the mind
of the Italian chieftain as to the hon
esty of purpose of the British-more thar
of the French.
| Came Too Late, They Say.
1t is believed in well-informed quar-
tiers in Washington that had the Offer
been made at the time Hitler showed
his hand-early in Augustine whole
catastrophe might have been averted
If the British and the French had con.
centrated earlier on Italy instead of go.
ing on wild goose chase to Moscow
some tangible results for peace might
have been obtained. However, thu
| French offer came too late to swing
Mussolini and precipitated the worlc
crisis, in their opinion.
At the present time the offer-some.
what amended and increased by the ad.
dition of portions of the British Somali-
| land It is repOrted-has been renewed