Evening star., 1940-03-05
MussoIini's Coal

Anglo Italian wartime relations
are suddenly and sorely strained,
though the imponderables in the
situation on both sides are Of a ma
ture that makes real breach highly
improbable. It is a matter Of Italy's
coal supply, for which she is de-
pendent on imports. OF the 14,0O0,0 900
tons required last year, only about
100000 tons were mined at home.
Some 100000 came from Germany
and about 100000 from Great
Britain. Roundly, a third OF the
German supply reached Italy by
water.
In pursuance of its recently de-
clared decision to stop all German
exports as part of the blockade pro-
gram, the British Navy has an
nounced that it will no longer per-
NIT German coal consignments via
Rotterdam to reach Italy. When
the embargo was proclaimed effective
March 2, sixteen Italian colliers were
actually loading German coal at the
Dutch port. There are reports that
the British admiralty will exempt
these vessels from the new order.
Meantime a rupture Of the 1898
Anglo-Italian "gentlemen's agree
ment," regulating the Mediterranean
relations of the two countries, is
threatened at Rome. The govern
ment has submitted vigorous note
of protest in London. 1t asserts that
Italian interests are seriously in
jured" by the coal blockade and that
the embargo is designed "to disturb
and compromise the economic and
political relations" established by
the pact of amity and friendship
sealed two years ago.
While the stoppage of coal imports
is the immediate occasion for Italys
protest, her note launches a general
complaint against the entire system
of allied contraband control. The
remonstrance seconds the United
States current objections to inter-
ference with neutral mails, denounc-
ing it as fragrant violation" Of The
Hague postal convention of 1907.
Despite heated and, of course, off,
cially sanctioned press attacks on
Britain's action, it would be pre-
mature to conclude that a serious
rift in the allied italian lutte is i'm
minent, even though more than coal
is at stake. The British have been
seeking to purchase Italian arms
and munitions under sort of barter
arrangement whereby the Italians
would take Welsh coal in return.
Italy appears to be insisting on pur-
chasing coal with agricultural prod
ucts instead Of with products of her
heavy industry. Entering into the
dispute. too, is the Italians memory
OF the League of Nations ill-starred
economic sanctions against them,
imposed during the Ethiopian cam
paign and, in Mussolini's view, pri-
marlly AZ 6rlLlSQ OeQeSC.
The western powers now at war
with Germany, of course, have the
greatest interest in preserving Italy
as a acknowledgement neutral" but
Italy is hardly less anxious to avoid
embodiment in the conflict. In 1915
pre-Fascist Italy finally took that
~;l~ l., %ha Iyor1d Xyor m v,I,iob yHro.
sumably she conceived her bread to
be buttered. There has been no lack
OF indication, despite his Rome-Ber-
lin axis loyalties, that II Duce is in
spired at this anxious hour singly
and alone by the paramount inter-
ests of his country. That is
contingency which justifles the be-
lief that London Rome diplomacy
will find a method of composing the
coal crisis before it drifts to the
danger point. 1t seems to be a
situation rich in compromise posi-
bilities.
With the Nazis chained to the West
Wall and debarred, in an emergency,
from coming substantially to 1taly's
military aid, Fascist vulnerability in
the Mediterranean is another factor
designed to make Mussolini think
twice and thrice before risking an
outright break with the two powers
which dominate the great middle
sea and 1taly's lifeline to her African
empire"