ANTI-RED PACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22909, 11 December 1937, Page 15

ANTI-RED PACT

MUCH BENEATH SURFACE - BELIEF IN SOME QUARTERS LONDON, No?. 27 There "are rumours in' London that Italy's participation in the GermanJapanese pact against. Communism conceals an understanding on the Far Eastern conflict. It is suggested that secret clauses of the protocol take account of special advantages which both Germany and Italy may obtain directly in China, and . indirectly in Europe, when the war is over. American official quarters see no threat to the United States in the pact. They regard it as a guarantee to Japan that neither Britain rior France will be permitted to interfere in the Orient. Although in some British official circles the pact is dismissed as "more window-dressing," other observers /believe that much may lie beneath the surface. For Italy to have joined the original German-Japanese pact it was necessary merely for her to add her signature. Why, it is asked, should it have been found necessary to draw up new documents ? Why was. it necessary for Herr von Ribbentrop to make a special visit to Rome from Berlin? Informed observers declare that the first results of the pact will be that Japan will follow the lead of Germany and Italy in recognising the rebel government m Spain. Japan is also expected to accept Italo-Gennan mediation in the Far-Eastern conflict, and to give support to Germany's colonial demands. ' A most important section 6f British Foreign Office opinion takes the \ view that the pact will make more distant the possibility of a rapprochement between Britain and Italy. That the pact contains more than appears on the surface is deduced from the comment by the editor of Giornale d'ltalia, Dr. Gavda. He says: "The armed forces of the three Powers lend this political act a concrete .warning and a special, significance." Ihe pact, he adds, serves as a guarantee of protection against all plans which "destructive forces" might formulate. * Dr. Gayda continues: "Peace can be guaranteed by cannon. The munist pact binds 200,000,000 people and 2,000,000 tons of warships together." Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, commenting on the pact, disr avowed "any hidden motives." "The three Powers are lined up solidly against Bolshevik deceit and Communist aggression," he said. "The pact is open to all States wishing to associate themselves in the preservation of civilisation, which the Fascist nations are determined to defend against every threat." -- Herr von Ribbentrop said: "The pact is of historic importance. It is a bulwark against Communism, which is preparing to undermine the signatory States internally, and to besiege them with armed warfare. This- accord guar* autoes world pence." After the signing of the pact, Italy issued a statement pointing, out tliat it v established a bulwark against. ism from the Mediterranean . , > ■ North Sea, and in the Orient/.