ITALY AND RUSSIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 10

ITALY AND RUSSIA

Unofficially but very emphatically the attitude of Italy toward any further advance by Russia to the valley of the Danube, the Balkans or the Mediterranean has been stated. Francisco Coppola, a noted Nationalist, has written that "Italy will never permit" any such movement. On the surface he may seem to be speaking only for himself, but in Italy of to-day he could not have published such words if they had been disapproved by Fascist authority. They can be taken, therefore, as showing what Italy's attitude will be if Russia's return to power politics, and to the traditional foreign policy of the Tsars, develops into that drive to become a dominant influence in the Balkans which was so long a cause of irritation to the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. The assertion of principle shows how the German-Soviet pact has altered the European outlook. If Russia does attempt a descent into the arep, on which Italy casts so jealous an eye, if Italy prepares to resist the movement, then the pact and the Rome-Berlin Axis cannot both survive. The question which will collapse will depend on the further question whether pact or Axis is the more vital to Germany—if the Reich is not already too deeply committed to Moscow for withdrawal to be possible. Should that be so, as is quite feasible, a new situation will arise. "Italy will never permit"— these are big words, which may need .modifying into "Italy will never passively suffer." Help may be needed, and more substantial help than could be found in the Balkans, presuming the countries there would be ready to co-operate Avith Italy against Russia. In that event, the search for assistance may profoundly affect world affairs.