The Evening Star MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1939. ITALY’S TURN.

Evening Star, Issue 23237, 10 April 1939, Page 10

The Evening Star MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1939. ITALY’S TURN.

In its methods—more particularly in the advantage possessed by the assailant—the Italian descent on Albania was the equivalent of a nocturnal sandbagging assault. It had larger motives, however, than such an act. Fascist Italy has always coveted the eastern side of the Adriatic. It is within her orbit; it belonged once to Rome; and its ports are better than those of the western side. So far as Albania is concerned, she has not only coveted; in a varying degree she has controlled it. Before she chose her side in the Great War she demanded of Austria that she should recognise her claim to Valona, one of the small State’s chief ports—a demand that was refused. During the war Italian troops, acting for the Allies, occupied the country, which had then no Government of its own, and along with other improvements constructed many of the present military roads.

It is a British writer who, in the latest book on Europe’s manifold troubles, ‘ Danubian Destiny,’ lays it down: “ Albania is, politically and economically, an extension of Italy upon the Balkan mainland.” Albania nevertheless was legally independent. The Italo-Albanian defensive alliance of 1927 in no way authorised Italy to intervene in its neighbour’s affairs without her consent. On the plea that living Zog had been a tyrant, that there had been demonstrations against Italians, and that both Albanians’ and Italians needed protection, Italy has now sent ships and troops and bombing aeroplanes to occupy the country. The chief ports have been seized, reports from Home and Tirana differing extremely as to the amount of resistance shown and of destruction. The swoop, in overwhelming force, was made when the Albanian Government and Parliament refused to accept proposals designed to increase the control of Italy over the country. It was made—so proclamations addressed to the victims profess—as an exhibition of friendship. The methods and professions are both familiar. The Albanian regular army numbers only 12,000. It was an easy raid for Italy —easier than the (earlier one on. Abyssinia. Even Rome finds it more decent not to boast of the “ glorious valour of our soldiers.” There was an Italian treaty with Yugoslavia, providing for maintenance of the status quo in the Adriatic, which seems to have been violated, as well as treaties with Albania and, arguably, the Anglo-Italian agreement. But Yugoslavia is not strong enough to challenge Italy.. She has rejected King Zog’s appeal for help. Great Britain has no direct interest in Albania. Berlin applauds its pupil. France is not expected at this stage to take any active stand. The Albanians are a halfsavage people, always with their own divisions. It is easy to believe that, to rule them at all, King Zog has been often forced to use Fascist methods. But it offends less that mediaevalism should linger among the remote mountains of Albania than that it should have been revived by great Powers of the West. Germany describes the new development, doubtless discussed with her beforehand, as “ encircling encoders.” .But it is certain that no one dreamed of encircling Germany till she became a danger to her neighbours. The whole Mr Chamberlain was to avoid the creation of opposing fronts. An Italian protectorate is to be established in Albania. . That may be a natural enough development, since the strait that separates the two countries is only sixty miles across. But the means by which the object is being effected remain an outrage, and “ an additional threat to the peace of the world.” If no worse consequences should develop from them they must make their own troubles for Italy. It is unlikely that the Albanians will’be ruled easily. Seven-tenths of .them are Moslems, and throughout the Near East and in Africa, Italy has judged it policy to proclaim herself as thq “ protector ofiMohammedans.” They will have reason to ask what kind of a protector she is likely to be.