Evening star., 1941-01-07

Hoare-LaVal agreement for the par
tition of Abyssinia. The problem is
whether to grant italian national
aspirations, or by thWarting them to
render Italy German province.
Italy's international role, ever since
the opening of her attack on Abys-
sinia, has been a desperate attempt
to escape from the trap: AS 'pris-
oner of the Mediterranean" she Is
doomed to take the short and dirty
end of the axis; but her efforts to
wiggle out have simply increased her
dependence on the Third Reich,
1t was in 1888 that Hitler told
Chancellor Schuschnigg of Austria
that when the time came the Nazis
would stage their own march on
Rome and that they would go
through Italy like a knife through
butter.
British Provided Checkmate.
At that time, Mussolini's Spanish
adventure was nearing success and
Abyssinia was already italian. But
British sea-poWer provided the
check mate to every italian effort.
Italy entered the war in defiance
Of Hitler's wishes, in an attempt to
link up the Peninsula with Francois
Spain But the Germans by the
Second Armistice of Compiegne set
up the Vichy government under
Petain as a barrier between MuSso-
lini and his Iberian friends.
The invasion of Greece, by way OF
Albinia, was again contrary TO
Hitler'S wishes. The German
Fuehrer had no desire TO see Italy
expand eastward into the Balkans
and knew the dangers of a winter
campaign in the mud and snow and
mountains of Albania and the
Epirus. The Greek victories were
clear proof, not only of the German
military foresight, but Of the Italian
distaste for the war itself.
Only the Italian African campaign
against Egypt can be said to suit
the German book. inasmuch as it
forced the British TO maintain large
| forces in the Eastern Mediterranean
| and at the same time reduced Ital-
ian power in Europe. And now the
British counteroffensive against
Graziani's army in Libya demon
strates that not even against their
naval "jailors" are the prisoners
of the Mediterranean" disposed TO
fight with the dash, courage and
fortitude the Italians showed on the
Carso during the first World War.
Are Reluctant Pawns.
1t Is fashionable in many coun-
! tries to sneer at the Italians as poor
soldiers. They are not-they are
brave, imaginative and tenacious in
any cause in which they believe. But
as individuals they are far too ra-
tional TO serve as good cannon
fodder in any war of contingent
issues. They will lay down their
lives for their country, but they
are reluctant pawns in the chess
game of power politics which Mus
solini has tried to play.
Now that the Italian war effort is
weakening, due to British naval
power and diminishing Italian NOR
ale, the old Italian dilemma re-
appears to haunt the counsels Of
world craftsmanship. An Italian
collapse would be the signal for
German occupation in form as well
as the occupation in fact which has
existed since the outbreak Of war in
September, 1899. Under these cir
cumstances, Hitler would be released
from all political obligations to his
ally and would simply re-eStablish
the old Hohenstaufen empire of the
Middle Ages.
If, on the other nand. Mussolini
attempts to back out of the war and
arrange a truce or an armistice,
what could the British offer him as
compensation or revictualment
which would not create further
dangers for the empire at the time
of. the anticipated German drive
through the Balkans into Turkey
toward Suez next spring? Per-
haps the only pledge which London
could accept would be the sur
render or immobilization of the
Fascist feet and air force and this
Hitler would be sure to oppose.
Yet it is clearly in England's
interests to reduce the pressure in
the Mediterranean and perhaps, by
an agreement along the lines offered
to Frances Spain. to feed the
Italian people-a little at a time
on conditions which would prevent
another leak in the economic
blockade of Germany similar to that
which Mussolini supervised during
the months when France and Eng
land were trying to hire his neu-
trality. So do not be too surprised
at early word of important political
and diplomatic changes in Italy.
Unless Mussolini's men should begin
to win battles, they are bound to
come.
Released by Consolidated News