JUGOSLAVIA AND ITALY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21837, 27 December 1932, Page 6

JUGOSLAVIA AND ITALY.

Recent cablegrams have suggested that relations between Jugoslavia and Italy are not as cordial as they might be. They have been subjected to strain more than once in the post-war period. A recent exchange of sentiments has not been remarkable for urbanity. The Italian Government has served Belgrade with an official protest against what it has designated as demonstrations of increasing hostility to Italy. Signor Mussolini has declared that certain Europeans, posing as pacifists, have invented the ridiculous story that Italy is preparing to attack Jugoslavia, but he has said that, despite provocation, Italy will Avatch events calmly. The interesting retort of the Jugoslavian Minister of Foreign Affairs is that there has been a deliberate attempt, on slight pretexts, to arouse hatred against Jugoslavia throughout Italy, and, though his country had remained calm in the face of provocation, she will not fold her arms and refuse to defend her sacred rights. It is at least to be hoped that the restraint which both Governments profess to have exercised thus far will continue to be a commendable feature of their behaviour. The Belgrade correspondent of the Daily Telegraph supplies the information that Jugoslavia is prepared to defend her frontiers against. Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Albania—a ' sufficiently large order—and is convinced that Italian toleration of violent anti-Slav disturbances is part of a deliberate campaign, A French correspondent of the same journal further illuminates the situation -by stating that the Foreign Ministers of the Little Entente Powers—Czechoslovakia, J ugoslavia, and Rumania —have been exchanging A’iews at Belgrade on the latest development in Italian policy. He conveys the impression that they are not a little concerned over the desire credited to Signor Mussolini for territorial changes in the map of Europe Avith special reference to the Balkans. In the course of their chequered history the Balkan’States well earned the appellation of the “ powder magazine ” of Europe. If in a comparative sense there has been quiescence among them of recent years their peoples are none the less capable to-day than of yore of the assertion of a very vigorous nationalism. Their political problems are complicated, and the position of minorities among them is associated with a good deal of apparently chronic unrest. That their Governments recognise a bond of mutual interest has been indicated in the fact that they have discussed the establishment of a pact of non-aggression' among themselves.

The formation of a Balkan League is one of the dreams 'of the veteran Greek statesman, M. Yenizelos, though Jugoslavia perhaps first launched the idea when the Treaty of Tirana between Italy and Albania brought home to her a sense of insecurity and isolation. But M. Venizelos, in his latter-day role, one commentator suggests, has been the first prophet of pacifism sent out by the fiery south-western corner of Europe since Biblical days. Behind the dictatorship in Jugoslavia has been the idea of King Alexander that Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, and Montenegrins, and all the different religious divisions of the people could be made to forget their ancient differences. The goal of unification is, however, still a long way from realisation. The Croats are not less bent than formerly upon an autonomy within a Federal State, and of political unrest there has been abundant evidence during the past year. The position of national minorities in the Balkans, and in Jugoslavia in particular, seems to be an outstanding cause of trouble. But the attitude of the Government of Jugoslavia towards Italy, coupled with the allegation that it is part of the Italian policy to foment such trouble, is of course another matter. The grounds of its suspicions regarding Signor Mussolini’s aspirations arc not explicitly set forth, but the dictatorship in Jugoslavia, started by King Alexander with a sincere desire to consolidate the country, apparently received a strong incentive in the fear that France, disappointed in the efficacy of the Little Entente, would abandon Jugoslavia in the face of Italy while rearranging her system of alliances. Italy would have liked a free hand in the Adriatic, and it was the French support of Jugoslavia that constantly brought France and Italy into diplomatic conflict. It is at least sufficiently obvious that the apprehensions of Jugoslavia are born of her proximity to a powerful neighbour, admittedly ambitious of expansion.