ITALY AND YUGOSLAVIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22694, 5 April 1937, Page 8

ITALY AND YUGOSLAVIA

Italy's treaty with Yugoslavia is one of the most significant achievements of recent days. In itself, it promises to introduce an era of better relations between the two countries, whose quarrels have been frequent and bitter. Even when overt disagreement has ceased there has persisted a lurking danger of trouble. If it should pave the way for a frank and friendly understanding shared by the other countries of the Little Entente (Rumania and Czechoslovakia) and by the Balkan countries, a very inflammable region of Europe may be "permanently pacified. Thus it may prove, as is suggested by comment in Belgrade, a turning point in the politics of Middle Europe as well. However, good as would be such aii outcome, to regard this as assured goes beyond the bounds of probability. France, habitually looking to the Little Entente for support in international affairs, cannot do otherwise than view the treaty with a suspicion of its inimical possibilities in alienating that traditional sympathy. Nor can Britain, although London is reported to have acclaimed the treaty as following the example of the Anglo-Italian agreement, be wholly confident of a tranquilising result. The pleasure evident in Berlin can be understood, for a bond between Italy and Yugoslavia, unless safeguarded against abuse as a means of hampering the operations of the League, may prove embarrassing to what remains of the project of collective security. This German satisfaction is openly accompanied by " a side glance at England," where hope in the League is still sufficiently alive to influence foreign policy.. Much depends on the motive actuating Italy. If Yugoslavia is to be used as a pawn in the international game as Italy wants to play it, this treaty Mill be of no service to the cause of general peace.