ITALY AND RUSSIA

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 68, 17 September 1936, Page 25

ITALY AND RUSSIA

RELATIONS IMPROVE

KEEPING THE DANUBE PEACE

'i Representatives of'the; British Army and Air Force will attend this year the great autumn manoeuvres in Russia, writes "Augur" from London to the "New York Times." This may be taken as an indication that although the two Governments continue to differ on many points, relations are moving gradually towards a better understanding of their mutual points of view. It is early to speak about deliberate co-operation, but the policies of both countries run along increasingly parallel lines. The refusal of London and Moscow to quarrel over the question of fortification of the Dardanelles is a good illustration of this tendency, already accepted as a fact by diplomatic observers: A ' peculiar side of Anglo-Russian relations is that they usually work themselves out by indirect methods. Before the World War London and St. Petersburg were drawn together through the Franco-Russian alliance. Today the hew: alliance between France and the/Soviet Union acts in r an exactly identical fashion. Although the Press comments tell a different tale international diplomacy knows that the British Government gave its blessing to this political combination. Expert opinion, in London; however, considers 'that, the 'Franco-Russian alliance cannot cover the whole field of the European situation. For this reason at present- the prospects of an ItaloRussian agreement are being closely studied here from the point of view of security in Central E.urope. FOUE DIVISIONS. After the war the Continent was roughly divided into four principal groups: Western Europe, Germany, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe. Because of the events of the last twelve months the last element has lost in large measure its individuality, falling under the influence of Western and Eastern Europe, which are moving towards each other and tending to meet around Germany in a-pincer-like movement. The question today is where the line of demarcation shall lie between • the respective spheres of influence. London sees how Germany, desirous of preventing the pincers from closing, with desperate energy drives the wedge of its influence south-east to the Balkans. The campaign of Dr. Hjalmar Schacht, German Economics Minister, to draw the Danubiah and Balkan States-into the - net' of economic dependence ori Germany is a prelude to energetic political penetration. The move in this direction is considered here as infinitely more dangerous to the peace 'of EuropeVthan any attempt by Germany against Austria. For a success in Vienna brings Berlin again to a dead end, as Italy's whole power would be thrown against her. ■ Preservation of the present conditions in the valley of the middle Danube depends, London judges, upon an agreement of the Western and Eastern groups. Italy's geographical position makes her inevitably the,representative of the West, while Russia*, by virtue of her immense weight. leads the Eastern group. This is all the more because Poland yet waits to avail herself of the' advantages of her key position between Germany and Russia - An Italo-Russian agreement,', therefore, is necessary *to obtain .unity of action in defence of the ■ status quo in Central Europe. '. Rome is linked- with Vienna and Moscow with Prague, so the respective spheres of influence meet on the frontier of Czechoslovakia and Austria. : ; A SHARED INTEREST. ..Russia has .a definite alliance with the Czechs promising aid against German aggression. But a move by Chancellor Hitler into Austria would represent a direct menace to the independent existence of Czechoslovakia. The result of this is that Russia shares Italy's interest in the preservation of existing conditions in Vienna. \ When many Foreign Ministers were present in London some months ago on the occasion of a. League of Nations meeting Nicolas" Titiilescu of Rumania produced a bold plan for a Russian guarantee 'of Austrian independence. At that time the suggestion 'seemed premature and Maxim Litvinoff, the 'Soviet Commissar, refused to commit himself. Since then, however, the idea has made progress of turning Austria into a sort of second Switzerland. •■■■•; During recent weeks when the removal of sanctions was being carefully prepared in secret diplomatic activities it was evident that, relations between Italy and Russia were good and easily susceptible of further improvement. In fact M. Litvinoff consistently expressed sympathy with Italy's desire to see,sanctions raised, and the only thing he asked for was a, definition of the Italian attitude towards the problem of militarism in Germany.

Of course, in practice an open ItaloRussian agreement is hampered by Moscow's fear of Turkish jealousy. The Turks are apprehensive of anything that may strengthen the Italian position in the eastern Mediterranean. Yet this is a mere detail, especially because an Italo-Russian agreement would concern the valley of the Danube, not the Mediterranean.

British diplomacy is aware that a regional pact in Western Europe is impossible without the concurrence of Premier Mussolini. An Italo-Russian agreement would be welcome because it would diminish the chances of an upset in that part of the world.