ITALY AND GERMANY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 38, 14 August 1939, Page 10

ITALY AND GERMANY

COMMON VIEWPOINT

ROME'S CHANGED STAND '

The Italians now closely agree again with the German views on the international situation, a diplomatic correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" wrote recently. This was not so when the Italians showed some optimism after the Prime Minister and Lord Halifax recently declared that Great Britain was ready to negotiate with Germany. These declarations, together with Italian discussions in European capitals and the diplomatic efforts of the Vatican, made some leading Fascists believe that the ground might be prepared for negotiations on larger issues. These views are now changed, and the alteration is attributed to a new exchange of views between Berlin and Rome. At any rate, there are-ample reasons for the belief that Italy now fully accepts the German thesis that no positive results can be obtained at present by negotiations with Britain and France. Berlin seems also to have persuaded Signor Mussolini that Herr Hitler is not prepared to give up his claims on Danzig and the Polish Corridor. This has stiffened Signor j Mussolini's own conviction that he cannot abandon or even reduce his demands on France. SPAIN AND JAPAN. One result of Italy's present agreement with Germany was a strict order to the Italian Press to follow Germany is suggesting that the "encirclement policy" of the democracies was , responsible for the unchanged inter- ] national situation, and in predicting the certain failure of the Anglo-Rus-sian talks. One also notes increasing Italian diplomatic activity in Japan and in Spain. The Italian leaders can hardly doubt, in spite of their instructions to the newspapers, that some kind of Anglo- j Russian agreement will be made. Strong efforts are therefore being made in Tokio to strengthen the AntiComintern Pact by turning it into a military alliance and to bring Spain into line with the foreign policy of the Axis. Italy is sure that Japan will compel Britain to reinforce her defences in the Far East at the expense of her power in Europe. In her relations with Spain, Italy has decided, since Senor Serrano Suner's recent talks in Rome, not to use much direct pressure. It is thought that a more friendly and advisory attitude will lead to speedier results. Italy, while emphasising her respect for the sovereign independence of Spain, suggests that it will only be logical for Spain to follow GermanItalian policy in the Western Mediterranean. Persistent efforts are being made to persuade Franco that his demands about Gibraltar and Tangier (which are not yet official) can be ef- j fective only if co-ordinated with the | German-Italian demands. DISSATISFACTION WITH BALKANS. If the Italians are satisfied with the improved relations with Spain—they believe that a. stage of "cooling off" has been succeeded by one of extremely cordial relations—Rome is less satisfied with the situation in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. The deterioration of Italy's relations with Turkey, Rumania, and Greece is noted with particular vexation, especially as Italian diplomacy in j Bulgaria has not yet brought about the expected results. In spite of German and Italian pressure, Bulgaria has not yet made up her mind to put forward certain territorial demands. This hesitation has created particular concern in Rome, the more so as the position in Yugoslavia is also causing certain anxieties. The hope that Yugoslavia would leave the Balkan Entente and by doing so promote the breaking-up of this block of Turkey, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Rumania has not yet been fulfilled in spite of uninterrupted Italian efforts in this direction during the last few weeks.