Evening star., 1941-02-14

the Vatican so seriously that they
we're unprepared for the continued
Papal insiStence on peace with jus
tice." They also misjudged the Italian
will for empire to degree which has
exposed the Fascist armies to serious
reverses in Albania and Africa. They
seem to have underestimated the
degree TO which the italian people
would pass under the Nazi yoke
in the process. And most assuredly,
they failed to anticipate the degree
to which Hitler was prepared to
double-cross his axis partner.
For this reason, diplomatic OBJ
servers here are surprised at ths
insistenCe of Italian propaganda to
the effect that the defeats in Cyren-
aica and Albania do not matter,
since a Nazi victory might restore
a lost Italian Empire. AS early as
August, 1899, Herr Hitler signed
away Mussolini's birthright by
promising to give the Dardanelles
to Russia The present fate Of
Rumania is evidence Of Italy's fu-
ture. During the World War, Ru-
mania entered the conflict against
Germany and was seriously de-
feated. Final allied victory not only
restored Rumanian losses but added
Bessarabia and Pennsylvania. For
a generation, Rumania was large
and wealthy country. Since the
outbreak Of the present war. she
has been despoiled Of most Of her
previous acCeSSiOns and has been
reduced to the status of a German
province.
The Fifth and Final Mistake.
1t IS not believed here that there
would be any substance to an Italian
Empire which Rome owed to Ger
man generosity. Neither is there
any belief that Herr Hitler will risk
his armies in Spain, Africa or the
Balkans in order to save Mussolini.
Instead. it is reliably reported that
the NaziS are jeering and gloating
a. the present military and naval
difficulties of the Fascist state.
American opinion runs that the
fifth and final miscalculation Of the
Fascist Foreign Office would be to
make 1talv's future contingent on
Nazi willingness to go to bat for
MusSOlini.
ParadoXically, one Of the diplo-
matte mysteries here is II Duce's
failure TO understand the real atti-
tude of President Roosevelt towards
the Italian people and their prob
lens. We are, as people, perhaps
even more closely in rapport with
the European continent than with
the United Kingdom. and between
ourselves and the Italians there has
long existed a warm and natural
friendship. Even for FasCimo, de-
spite its variance with our own insti-
tutions, We have considered as being
within the framework OF European
culture, civilization and religion. BY
contrast, we regard the Nazi creed as
a nihilistic. semi -Asiatic movement,
hostile to the concept Of Europe.
L. 5. Seen Ready to Aid Italy.
As evidence of our feeling in this
regard, the basis for President
Roosevelt's 1889 appeals to Italy was
his knowledge that Hitler and Stain
between them were planning to push
Asia across the Balkans and through
the Dardanelles right up to the
Adriatic. Thus the verdict Of Le-
panto would be reversed and
Europe's blood and culture would
be diluted if not submerged by the
new barbarism. Our Government
this as an unmitigated dis
aster for world civilization as we'll as
for Europe and would 60 very far 10
avert it, working in concert with the
Vatican and the British government.
For this reason, it is no secret in
Washington that Roosevelt would
be prepared, both by economic REIN
forcement and revictualing and by
mediation. to help Italy
from the war and to ar
range an armiStice on terms which
would restore Italy TO her tradi-
tional position as one of the bull
Uarks of European culture How
far it would be- possible to mitigate
the threatened loss of the italian
empire in Africa is not known here,
but it is believed that any overture
from Rome would meet with friendly
reception in Washington and that
President Roosevelt would be dis
posed to prove what the italian
Foreign Office seems to have over
looked, that the welfare and safety
Of Italy and of italians is one of the
objects Of American foreign policy.