WORLD NEWS IN STORY AND PiCTURE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

WORLD NEWS IN STORY AND PiCTURE

GERMANY AND ITALY. We have heard a great deal about the so-called "Rome-Berlin axis," with Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini repeatedly stating that their countries are to go forward in friendship. However, when we examine this "axis," we find that its basis is purely artificial. There is no real friendship between Germany and Italy. Indeed, the very reverse isnearer the truth. The Germans rer gard the Italians as a decadent nation. The Italians in their turn look upon the Germans as barbarians. Not a very good start for "eternal friendship," is it? But there are other things which hurt worse than merely calling each other nasty names. In the case of Germany and Italy they are principally a desire by each to control Central Europe and the Balkans and the question of colonies. In the case of Central Europe Italy Las apparently already lost her fight •gainst Germany for dominance. For quite a long while Mussolini appeared

World Events Explained.

By ARPAD SZIGETVARY.

to have ;the upper hand in Austria and had gained some influence in Hungary through supporting that country in her claims for the return of territory which, hers for a thousand years and more, had been torn from her by the treaties following the Great War. For a while Germany was impotent. Then she acted swiftly, in a manner we have now learned to expect from her, and seized Austria. Italy woke up to one of the things she dreaded most— to find her "friend," Germany, on her border. For Italy worse was soon to follow. With the prospective dismemberment of Czechoslovakia in view, Germany was able to promise something definite to Hungary, a tiling which Italy could not. Prior to the Great War those parts of Czechoslovakia known as Bohemia and Moravia were Austrian, while Slovakia and Ruthenia were Hun-

garian. Again Germany acted swiftly. Bohemia and Moravia are again under the German race. Ruthenia and parts of Slovakia are again Hungarian.

For Italy the tale of woe does not end there, however. She has flirted in vain with the Balkan countries. German influence now appears to be supreme in Rumania and Bulgaria through the recent trade pacts which would seem to tie both these countries to Germany's apron strings. The Greek people have a pro-British king, but the dictator of Greece, General Metaxas, is a pro-German, and German influence in Greece is supreme. The position in Turkey since the death of Kamal Ataturk is uncertain, but Turkey cannot now be really regarded as a Balkan country. Turkey in Europe consists of only a comparatively small area and Turkey lias turned her face more towards the Arab and other Moslem countries. Yugoslavia I told you I about a fortnight ago and how that]

country might be Germany's next step. Italy would find most of her land borders controlled by her German "friend." '

And so we see the end of Mussoluiis dream—shattered by his "partner" in the much-vaunted "RomeBerlin axis." Mussolini is left with Albania, which was an Italian protectorate before he came to power. So years of endeavour in the Balkans has accomplished nothing. The plain fact is that Germany has simply used Italy to suit her own ends. When Germany was weak and friendless she saw in another , disgruntled Power, Italy, someone to aid her. Herr Hitler, in common with the world, admitted the marvellous work which Mussolini had accomplished for the Italian people and Italy internally. But he just as clearly recognised that when it came to anything outside of Italy Mussolini was little more than a crude and bombastic bungler. Hitler took advantage of all this, with what results we see to-day.

Italy is virtually friendless. She has no money. She in her turn needs help. We may yet find her seeking aid again from the one that has helped her bo often in history— Britain, the real maker of modern Italjc