The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1923. MUSSOLINI’S METHODS.

Evening Star, Issue 18375, 8 September 1923, Page 4

The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1923. MUSSOLINI’S METHODS.

Ultimata threaten to be flying about Europe now that Signor Mussolini has so far established his position in Romo that he feels that he has time to look abroad. Jugo-Slavia has received one, it appears, as well as Greece. The revelation, in ado by a Belgrade journal, seems to have been received with surprise in some Western and European circles. The Pans newspapers describe it as announcing a new war cloud, which may involve the whole of Southern and Central Europe. But the war cloud was plainly indicated, for those on the watch for trouble, by a report in a Rome newspaper the contents of which were cabled briefly a fortnight, ago. Signor Mussolini was declared then to have sent a “virtual ultimatum ” to his northern neighbors across the Adriatic, inspired by so old a grievance as the control and ownership of the city of Eiuine, which were supposed to have boon settled by the Treaty of Rapallo nearly three years ago. Italy wanted Eiumo. A large proportion of its inhabitants were Italians, and it commanded the northern part of the Adriatic. Ihe treaty did not give her her desire, largely through the opposition of President Wilson. The most that Italy could achieve was that Eiumo was redeemed from non-Italian control. With its port of Barros it was made a “ free cit\, with a free corridor connecting it vith Italian Istria. “At Inst the keys to our house are in our pocket,” declared an Italian statesman, but other Italians have not ceased to sigh for the house itself. IJ Annunzio for a time possessed 't by force, but had to give up Ids possession. Now Signor Mussolini seeks nppaicntly to recover it by a quarrel with the Jugo-SUvs, who, by an addition which was made in Juno, 1921, to the treaty, were given certain joint righto with Italy in connection with the buffer State s control. Towards the end of August he was threatening that if the Jugo-Slavs did not within a few days fulfil certain requirements “ full liberty of action would bo reserved by Italy. Now a second ultimatum has been issued, though the demands made, in the Slav Government’s opinion, are such as it is utterly impossible for Jugo-Slavia to accord. Yet the alternative to granting them may bo war.

It is time that someone controlled this Italian Premier. His ruthless, vainglorious spirit recalls too much that of the ex-Kaiser, who acute observers foresaw would be a danger to Europe at a time when his extravagances went no father than sword-rattling. To make the Adriatic an Italian lake would bo a natural clesiro of Signor Mussolini. The acquisition of Eiumo would be a large step towards that end. The seizure of Corfu, if it is to be retained by Italy, would be another stop. It would be strange if sinister significance had not been found in Iris latest utterance, in which be recalled that “ Corfu was for centuries a dependency of Venice.” Of Venice that is, of Italy. But Rome is even more an integral part of Italjr than the watery city. If the “ Black Shirt ” Cmsar should regard it as his mission, to restore to the country which he rules all the territory once included in the Roman Empire, Signor D’Annunzio will acclaim him as a paladin, a most glorious fellowspirit; but the task envisaged will be likely to prove beyond his powers. The dream would be magnificent, but it would be one of the Middle Ages. Signor Mussolini should have been born in the ago of chivalry, when “ whoever opposes mo I will smash,” which would seem to be his maxim, was a’motto not yet assailed. Already ho has made a disturbing threat, and shown how he can profit by a bad example that of French statesmen in their Ruhr adventure—by the conditions lie has laid down for the evacuation of Corfu. The Italians will remain there, lie is i eported to have said, until Greece has yielded to his every demand. That might easily mean that they will remain thcic for all time to tome. As a preliminary to their departure, Greece would have to execute all the murderers of the Italian mission in Albania-, who may be either Albanians or Greeks, and it is not certain that she ha.s succeeded in ca-tchin ,T even the first of them' yet. More than one of them may die a natural death before she is able to lay hands on them, and men who keep clear of the clutches of the law are apt to die quickly in Albania from causes that would not be natural in more civilised countries. If Signor Mussolini lives long, surviving the cycling race in which ho is resolved to emulate the ancient Caesars, who aspired to the fame of gladiators, not content with that of rulers and gods, and retains his authority in Italy, an anxious time is likely to lie before the European Chancellories.