WORLD AFFAIRS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4327, 17 August 1937, Page 3

WORLD AFFAIRS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS ON THINGS THAT MATTER. BETWEEN TWO FIRES. Middle Europe, feeling- tlie heat of fires of political and economic unrest, is caught between two spheres of influence—German and Italian, Premier Mussolini, occupied with Mediterranean concerns, is pressed by Germany for a free hand in the Danufian states, especially Austria. In return It Duce appears likely to bargain for greater freedom of action in certain parts of the Balkans, Indeed, recent indications are that Italy no longer is placing obstacles before German penetration along the Danube, while at the same time evidences appear of greater Italian strength in the Balkan countries. FASCIST HOLD STRENGTHENED. All this seems, in line with the evident intention of the two dictatorships to split the Little Entente and strengthen Fascist influence in middle Europe. The Italo-Yugoslav-ian pact is evidence of this, while probabilities are rife that a similar agreement with Roumania may follow, in which case Czechoslovakia might be separated from her allies. Thereupon, Hungary’s territorial ambitions very likely would be allowed to extend Cxechward. It is obvious to European correspondents that Rome and Berlin have fixed on central Europe as a field for political and economical exploitation. The Austrian Government is not at all well disposed to Germany and Italy is having things all their own way in Central Europe. She prohibited the re-union of AustrianGerman war veterans that was to have been held in the Austrian city of Linz on July 11, in celebration of the anniversary of the friendly accord concluded last year between Austria and the Third Reich. The action is one of a series of incidents indicating increased Austrian opposition to German political infiltration. HAPPY GREECE. A few hundred miles away from this scene of suspicion and possible turmoil, Greece is prospering under a virtual dictator who has the welfare of his people at heart. General Metaxas’s Government is a dictatorship, but he has wasted no time attempting to convert the people to Ms own ideas and acquire a political backing. Relying on the King’s confidence, he has left them to judge Mm by results. He selected some of Ms Ministers for their specialised knowledge; others were retired naval and military officers of Avide experience Avho could be trusted to apply’ Ms doctrines. Party politics or prejudices Avere rigorously excluded; and so he set to Avork to reconstruct Ms country. An unbiased scrutiny of Ms nine months 'must give him credit for a considerable achievement. The abolition of party government and the elimination of the constant political upheavals and squabbles Avhieh for many years had been the concomitant of Greek .parliamentarism, have restored to the country an unprecedented degree of internal calm and order. Labour troubles and strikes have ceased.