Evening star., 1939-01-14
Musso|ini Eager to Cash In
Chips He Won at Munich
Italians Sure of Clash With France in Spring
Unless Paris Surrenders to Demands

iers to Demands
ley, the rest would be easy. Hitler
and Mussolini would pound the
table and demand. It was even con-
ceivable that II the French remained
adamant Mussolini's forces from
Ethiopia might occupy Djibouti,
which is held by only $500 French
troops. In any case, there would
be demonstration Of force in that
region.
Situation Untenable.
Under such pressure the French
might be compelled to yield. Hints
were thrown out in Rome that the
situation in Djibouti had become
untenable for the Italians. A couple
Of Rases, loyal followers of the
former emperor, have settled in that
Red Sea port and are fomenting
trouble in Ethiopia. The French,
1t Is said in Rome, are doing moth
ing to prevent the pernicous activity
OF these outlaws. Arms and ammu-
milton are being smuggled In large
quantities through Djibouti to var
ious parts of Ethiopia. Italy cam
not proceed with peaceful develop
ment of the newly acquired terri
tory unless Djibouti is surrendered
to the italian crown.
Mussolini hoped that these argu-
ments would impress and convince
the participants in second Munich
conference. And If the British still
hesitate. impressed by the firm
ness of the French, an accomplished
fact might decide everything. That
was the plan and the agenda Musso-
lini had in mind.
That there were important hur-
dies to take before 1t could be ac-
complished was another matter.
But he was firmly convinced that
with the unequivocal support of the
Fuehrer, which had been assured to
him before he pegged his claim on
November 80, the plan could not fail.
'Mr. Chamberlain is realist"
said high government official to
this writer" and we cannot believe
that he, who with II Duce saved
Europe from Disaster last October,
will not do his utmost to prevent
even a worse catastrophe.
Canossa for Chamberlain.
What the actual thoughts of the
British premier were nobody here
seems to know. But there were in
dications from talks Count Ciano
had with the British Ambassador.
Lord Perth, that Mr.. Chamberlain
was half-sold on the idea that the
French might make some minor
concessions to satisfy these claims
which appeal to the British senti-
ment of justice and fair play. The
French Ambassador here received
this cryptic message from a close
friend in London: Rome will be
another Canossa"
The Italo-French tension was
brought about in an unexpected and
theatrical manner Since last May
there have been conversations be-
tween the French Charge d'Affaires
in Rome, M. Blondel, and the Italian
foreign office. Several times the
| question of the Laval-MusSolini
agreement on Tunisia was discussed
and Count Ciano could find no fault
with that settlement. He empha-
| sized that if France recognized the
conquest of Ethiopia she could live
on Friendly terms with Italy.
This condition was complied with
by the Daladier government and
rancoiS-Poncet, one of Frances S
ablest ambassadors, was transferred
from Berlin to Rome.
Had Talk With Ciano.
After he presented his credentials
he had long and friendly talk
with Count Ciano. They discussed
the Franco-Italian relations and
Ciano showed much concern over
the Spanish problem. Francois
Poncet and Count Ciano agreed that
time and possibly a British sugges-
ton that king be placed on the
throne of Spain would take care of
that situation. Not once during this
tWo-hour talk did Ciano mention the
Italians in Tunis, neither did he
mention Djibouti
The next day the French Am
bassador attended for the first time
a session of the Italian Parliament,
where spontaneous manifestation
was made for the annexation of
every conceivable part of France
where Italians live in large numbers
This Spontaneous demonstration
had been pre- Several
days before the chambers met, the
members were instructed to shout
when the speaker gave the signal
I'VE want Corsica, we want Tunis,
we want Djibouti, we want Savoy
Several thousand Fascist youths had
received pink notices to be present
at p. m. before Mussolini's Office
in the Piazza VeneZia and shout
the same thing. The italian in
formers of the foreign correspond
ents here told their employers what
was going to happen. The corre-
spondent of a British news agency
sent tactless cable to London in
forming his agency of what was in
store. This dispatch was published
three hours before the spontaneous
and uncomfortable outburst of pa
triotism took place in the italian
chamber. The Italian press bureau
was so annoyed that the next day
Mussolini issued an order forbidding
Italian citizens to work for foreign
newspapers.
Satisfaction Held Necessary.
Thus Italy pegged her claims on
some section of the French Empire
There seems no question that some
thing must be done to satisfy Italy.
This is the unanimous opinion of all
Italian officials. They are some
what concerned because the French
don't appear to be intimidated and
seem to face the issue squarely. But,
say these officials, so did the
Czecho-S -Slovaks. They too were de-
termined to fight for the integrity
| of their TERRITORY and Hitler'S mailed