ISLAM ROUSED?

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 19

ISLAM ROUSED?

PROPAGANDA FOR WAR

INCITEMENT TO ARABS

DRIVE AGAINST JEWS

The success of French Premier M. Blum's defence loan and the longawaited replies on the new Locarno from Germany and Italy.-.have been in the headlines, writes Frederic Sondern from Rome '.3 the?-."San -Francisco Chronicle." But*" the -attention of European statesmen has t>een centred qn II Duce's triumphal procession on the North Afriqari coast.* Governor Italo Balbo spread \the watchword of the, new Italian empire: "Il.Duce is the protector of Islam, the 'leader of the Mohammedans, the defender of Rome —mother of all Mediterranean peoples." Nor were these regarded as empty words. Ibn Saud and other Arab potentates sent emissaries to accompany and confer with; Mussolini, en route from -the French Algerian * border to the edge of.Britain's Egypt along Balbo's magnificent, strategic :road which, skirts tlie coast. The pro-, cession was'in 'full view of the Italian battle squadrons. II ;'Duce impressed the legates with- rosy promises of trade, hospitals, schools. ' His keynote was that the new Roman empire will : be a peer among the greatest European Powers, but unlike the latter it will protect rather than exploit the -interests of Islam. . He indicated that a native army pf .1.00,000 Ethiopians .will soon ba. organised to demonstrate Italy's purpose to the other nations. AGENTS IN PALESTINE. The anxiety .among London.and Paris statesmen reported in London,, .has heightened. - The Bari radio sender is taking up Nazi catchwords and openly inciting the Arabs to . an anti-Jewish campaign in.Palestine.- British authorities in that area report an influx of Italian agents with pernicious motives and dangerous propaganda material that constitute the groundwork of the holy war ■ Mussolini is agitating.' Although '.Whitehall is sceptical, in.siders comment that Britain actually is strong enough now to cope with any possible trouble. Nevertheless, recent incidents have strengthened the resolution of Britain and France that Hitler is to be granted no colonies. A Foreign Office authority informed this correspondent, that Britain alone is capable of handling Mussolini anywhere, but Hitler must not be permitted to gain a foothold in Africa from which he can " -send help to his fellpw-dictator, Sir Samuel Hoare carefully timed his comments' before the- House of Commons "in order to provide Mussolini with a cold shower to cool the heat of his African dreams," as he himself said privately. :He wants another. £10p i OOO,OQp-.. : f0r,: 150 ships, "Warships are now, he" says, almost immune from air attack. The Admir-. alty chief feels that the naval rivalry between. his country and. the United. States-;:ii3-bt last ended. The Quai d'Orsay is equally worried over* ;%e unrest Mussolini is stirring? lip 'in v Algeria and Morocco, vital reservoirs;-:'of man power and raw material for.' France. ■ •"IV--i>uce's new. great African power -is .creating an 'unforeseen but none tHe'aesff.:., potent ;■ lacfpr in European-politics,"-declared-an insider. So the :new;;;i)a(;f;talKswUl;;open under an evil ■ P Fraridy ; "financial 'iri?iders credit Washington; with .the.'.;,success Q.f Premier Blum's £100,000;p00 defence loan.:-:^h3.t. flotation was regarded as"a: Significant, -diplomatic gesturein'1 addition-to its, economic import-. #cg^paraftelifig^:-Great ■•nrsßntam^ tremendous"::-:arma. The - dictatprs : ■'are .expected, to- deduce that'apy.violence .is bound to stir up, a stiff battle, MONEy FBQM AMERICA. -M;3Blurn: now; faces the -problem of ■StfSmm money invested;' m the United BtEites:: by large. French financiers who are not susceptible to the1 call' of patriotism. ' .He; has solicited, advice :6ri : th.e. matter; from President: Rooseveit-a:l'Ambassador Bullitt. who suggested-that a..returri.-to liberal ecp-; homie -poiicies,- fre'e,;rhovernent of gold, and governmental economies might restore confidence: in.' -Ereneh stability.. The French Premier': hpfied that Mr. Boosevelt, who.wants -tp'get rid of the' 50-called; "hot.money.^wpiild threaten; hiEh'taxes dn>': fnrelgri;:canital and thus openly assure^Ffance of; American sup: ■port.'/-' The bairgairi,; i§: s'aid.'/.ito have: clicked; and millions'invested: with the; House of Morgan,'arfr'expetfed to re-. turn .to French, shore's. •' ; , . : ' -. i ; Secretary: Mprgenthau's'.declaration: that the Johnson.law will.be.Enforced: to.'the letter ;is;;a blow : to .Paris states-, men: ■ Ambassadorißonnet.had report-, ed that .the' President mij»ht be willing; to close';'pne>eyei;to lending abroad by wrivitayfeanks; and to public institu-, tions'J.wh'o':r \v?^*;V paving coupons, but,.he continued, J-Mr. Roosevelt hesitated; to risk. ;stir#ti;g[up thj Senate isola-: tionistg, at the height of the-Supreme; Court controversy. Paris, is, therefore, very much disappointed with the outcome of M. Bon,-; net's mission. -Financial insiders blame: Premi.er Blum for disregarding the: advice of French and American circles1 ■iyhb urged sending as Ambassador an> ingenuous-looking individual who knew American politics and could crack jokes-.with Senator Borah—not, the obviously.ishrewd Frenchman. Parish hears that President Roosevelt and Ambassador Bullitt are now consulting on the next step. _ ' ' The Blum regime is entering itscrucial stage, A month will decide, which path it will follow, "a, little left of centre like Roosevelt, or very left,"; as the Premier himself words it. The: "Two Hundred Families" • are getting, their last chance to abandon thair merciless anti-Blum sabotage cam-, paign. ; As an inducement M- Blum has: promised that there will be no moire: Socialistic laws, no experiments—until1 after the. Paris Exposition. Industrywill be allowed a "breathing spell" to became adjusted to the new conditions. The capitalists must bring their money back to France, lower; prices, and pro-, mise to behave, otherwise the Government will redistribute their wealth with a vengeance—using dictatorial, methods if necessary. ; .