Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1939. ITALY AND FRANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 99, 27 March 1939, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1939. ITALY AND FRANCE.

DrcTATOnsitirs, it now seems clear', can only thrive on aggressive acts ageinst other States. The world has witnessed the manner in which Germany has ridden roughshod over the Peace Treaties, after Herr Hitler had solemnly promised to honour signatures given voluntarily. It has also been a shocked witness of the annexation of Austria, the wresting of the Sudeten areas from Czechoslovakia, then the forcible creation of implied sovereignty over Slovakia and the Czech tei-ritory, and finally the seizure of Memelland under threat of aimed force, violating the promised word. All this has been done in the typical Nazi manner which is so well-known for its ruthlessness and utter disregard of the rights of peoples to maintain their own integrity inviolate. What Dr. Benes has called a shocking international crime in relation to Czechoslovakia is true of all that Nazism has done in its brutal aggressive style. Very shortly the world may have its attention drawn to the former master Dictator of whom Herr Hitler was once the pupil, but very quickly changed place with Signor Mussolini. A week ago Nazi commentators observed that Signor Mussolini not having sent immediate congratulations to Herr Hitler was showing signs of pique at Germany’s successes. The adventure in Abyssinia is past, but its fruits are still of the Dead Sea kind, and Signor Mussolini must now concentrate upon some new avenue in which to seek a means to keep his Dictatorship from crumbling. Recently, he has been casting envious eyes towards French possessions in the Mediterranean and in North Africa, but has hesitated about going to an extreme step because of the resolute French attitude and Britain’s strong- declaration of standing by France when their common interests were assailed. Signor Mussolini must save his face somehow, and in opening the new Chamber of Fasces Corporation, or Italian Parliament, King Victor Emmanuel, in his third speech of a thirty years’ reign, mentioned his “Government’s official Note of December IT outlining Italy’s demands.” France, however, denies the receipt of formal demands. Musso-

lii;i’s announcement of Iris new goals is published to-day. A well staged demonstration in the Italian Parliament in December led Deputies to cry aloud for Tunis and Corsica, but the l)uce went no further. The desired consequence was reached—the creation of acute tension between Italians and the French in Tunis and Corsica with strong French measures to put down subversive elements—so that Italy might have some ground of interference. In renewing these demands yesterday, Signor Mussolini widened them to claims in East Africa and to participation in the management of the Suez Canal; but no matter how provocative the Duce may have thought his words they lack the conviction of threat of arms. For France to give way on any point, especially in Tunis, would be fatal to her position in _ the Mediterranean and British interests would be vitally affected. That is why M. Daladier has said there will be no yielding to Italy, and Britain has given her piomise of support. It is time to say to the Dictators, “Thus far and no further.” Mr Chamberlain has emphatically said that if Germany “is seeking by successive steps to dominate Europe, and perhaps to even go further than that . . . the British Government would feel bound to say that this would rouse the successful resistance of Britain and other countries who prize their freedom, as similar attempts have done in the past.” That is a blunt warning and Signor Mussolini cannot fail to disregard it. An Italian expansionist policy in the Mediterranean at the exj>ense of France can only result in war.