The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-07


 For eighteen months prior to that, Il Duce had not seen one foreign diplomat except the Ger man.
 The latest conference between Phillips and Mussolini was highly significant. Tn the first place, Phillips got the audience only be- cause the President Of the United States asked for 1t personally. He made representations through the Italian Embassy in Washington that he wanted his Ambassador to be received by Mussolini and no underling.
 What Roosevelt wanted, of course, was some word regarding ftalys war aims.
 When Ambassador Phillips fin. ally got in tho inner sanctum, he did not approach tho war question directly. Naturally no ambassador can ask the ruler of any country whether he intends to make war. Instead, Phillips raised the ques. ton of American shipping In the Mediterranean, and remarked that 1t would have to be withdrawn if the situation became more tense.
 It was at this point that Mus. solini replied reassuringly, and ir- dicated that American shipping did not have to worry. But there was nothing very definite or cate. goric in what he said. He did not specifically promise that there would be no war.
 ITALYAN.U. S. TRADE
 However, Ambassador Phillips discussed another matter which also required an optimistic atmos- phere, Q. trade treaty between the United States and Italy.
 This had been proposed about three years ago, but was dropped because the Italians demanded too much. Particularly they demanded that the treaty be signed by the "King of Italy and Emperor of Ethiopia" = which would recog- nize Italys conquest of that coun- try.
 Non-recognition of territory ob- tained by force is one of the rock ribbed foreign policies of the United States, particularly in Manchuria. It was outlined first by william Jennings Bryan. re-af- firmed by Henry L. Stimson, and continued by Roosevelt. So the trade treaty with Italy, then pro. posed. went up the flue.
 Now, however, new negotiations are in the works, and 1t looks as # this time the United States would not object to letting King Victor Emmanuel sign his John Henry on the treaty as Emperor of Ethi- Opia." The State Department now inclines toward the view that this would not weaken our non-recog- hilton policy.
 CONQUERS WITH INK
 Behind all this is the policy which the Washington diplomatic corps calls "Buttering Up Benito." Another name for 1t of course, is "Benito's BiacIxmaiI."
 In other words, Mussolini, knows he is now the "swing man" of Eur ope, can gouge almost anything he wants out of his neighbors, and is very busy doing 1t. Every belli- gerent editorial published by the Fascist press, every radio war warning issued by 0randi, adds 10 the filters of the Allies and sends Mussolini's blackmail price higher.
 Some diplomats figure that he has won more through the inexpensive medium of printers ink than any man in history. For Mussolinl is playing both sides against the middle, From Hitler he has already won the promise of . free hand in the Balkans. From the French he has won . recent invitation Co discuss the problem of North Africa. And from Che United states he may win . trade treaty and left handed recognition of Ethiopia.
 How far the trade treaty dis cussions with Italy will go re- mains to be seen. There is no question that the President re- eards Mussolini as the key for European peace or for tipping the scales for violent war. So he wants to butter him up.
 SENATOR ME ON BENITO
 Quote of the week comes from Senator Gerald Wye of North Dakota: ssnIussoiini Is like South- ern Republican delegates - easy to buy but hard to keep bought CAPITAL CHAFF