Evening star., 1940-01-07
peace Axis Marshals Pressure
To Effect End of War in 1910
United States of Europe Held Out to the Have
Nots' as Honeyed Inducement to.
Trap Frightened Dove
By Constantine Broom.

The nightmarish year Of 1899 full
filled most pessimistic expectations. A
nonsensical war broke out three months
before the end of that year.
The year 1910 has come with most
of the world powers at each others
throats, but also with mild hopes that
the leaders of the world will see the
light of day and stop their fighting be-
fore it is too late-before the economic
and social foundations Of world which
has been going on indifferently for sew
eral centuries have been shaken beyond
repair. The slogan Of the peace advo-
Gates is "Stop fighting now. In few
months it will be too late"
AS the forces of war have brought to-
gether strange bedfellows-Hitler and
Stalin-the forces for peace are bringing
together equally unexpected companions
Franklin Roosevelt, Pope Plus XII and
Benito Mussolini. It is this triumvirate
which Is working at the present time
with all the means at its disposal to
terminate war which, unchecked, can
not possibly have any but the direst
consequences for the entire world.
President Roosevelt and Pope Plus
openly endeavored to maintain peace in
Europe. Their various appeals were
sent, since the crisis entered its acute
phase in March, 1889, to the leaders Of
the nations which are now at war.
Strong Partisan for Peace.
Mussolini was and still is the partner
OF the Fuehrer. He believed, however,
that saber-rattling alone would accom-
plish the aims Of the axis. When Hitler
went further than noise making, Musso-
lini withdrew into his shell. He did not
betray his ally. His non-participation
in this present war was done in full
agreement with his Berlin partner. AS
months went by and the real conse-
quences of the present conflict were
driven more strongly into his mind, II
Duce became as strong a partisan for
its settlement as the other onlookers. A
man with a practical mind, Mussolini
could see no gain for Italy or for the
rest Of the world If this conflict con-
tinued indefinitely The disintegration
of Europe, which to him appears as in
evitable as night follows day, cannot
possibly leave Italy unaffected. Hence
II Duce began making approaches to
the United States and to the Vatican.
The relations between the Pope and
the Fascist regime have not been par
ticularly cordial in the past few years,
despite the Lateran treaty by which II
Duce re-established the temporal Papal
state. Fear Of the consequences of the
present war, by which only the forces Of
Communism and anarchism can be VIM
ners, has drawn II Duce closer to the
Pope.
Press Now Friendly to U. S.
Relations between the United States
and the Italian ruler have been diplo-
matically friendly. That is to say, we
have maintained normal diplomatic re-
lations with the italian government, but
outside that there has been no love lost
between Rome and Washington. The
Italian press following indications from
high authority, attacked vigorously the
United States in general and President
Roosevelt in particular. There has been
a change of tone in the last six weeks.
America is no longer a hothouse for
raising gangsters. On the contrary,
press comment has become warm and
friendly. The Fascist government showed
Ambassador Phillips the utmost solici-
tude and friendliness
Mussolini on one occasion in Deem
ber expressed his thoughts for world
peace through Papal-A
cooperation in the following terms: The
three states must work together. Amer
lea has complete control over gold and
general resources of the world It is
undoubtedly the most formidable Ma
ton today. The Pope has control over
millions of faithful Catholics who would
do everything in their power to obey
orders from the Vatican. He is the
strongest moral influence in the world
Italy has key position in Europe. I
hold the balance of power. Whichever
way Fascism throws its weight, there
will lean the balance for victory. I am
going to throw it only on the side of
peace.
Prepares for Trade Concessions.
To indicate his willingness to cooper
ate with the United States, II Duce is
preparing to make concessions regarding
the economic policies of Italy to appease
Secretary of State Hull. He has indi-
Gated his willingness to alter some Of
the barter policies of Italy in order to
bring to happy conclusion reciprocal
trade agreement between the two coun-
tries. II Duce looks upon such an agree
ment as more important from the po-
litical than from the economic angle.
Even though allied and German men
of war are fighting each other-there is
no real fighting on land or in the air
the anxiety of the allies to have peace
equals that of the other belligerents and
neutrals.
To better understand the situation, a
short survey is necessary. The war
against Germany was declared by the
French and British after the invasion Of
Poland. BY the time the French troops
got into position behind the Maginot
Line, Poland was crushed. The war had
been declared because Germany had
ignored the pleas of the allies and had
invaded free and independent state.
The Germans made it clear from the
very beginning that they would be on
the defensive on the western front. They
have kept their word. No important
German force has entered French ter
ritory. Not single important German