RAPID CHANGES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20420, 10 February 1938, Page 8

RAPID CHANGES

According to the cable messages “a succession of events, culminating with Herr Hitler’s purge, has caused a lightning-like change in the European scene.” The changes have been numerous and rapid of late years, but the latest is expected to affect Anglo-Italian relationships, and there is mention of a rapprochement. That certainly would be a very marked and sudden change. Only a few weeks ago the question of the hostile attitude of the Fascists was discussed in the House of Commons, and the Labour member who raised the matter said some very hard things, especially regarding the anti-British propaganda campaign on which Italy had embarked in the Near East. “ I feel,” the member said, “that Italy, or the head of the.ltalian Government, had now become the poison pen of Europe, and poisons the whole of world international relations.” Instances were given of the sort of thing published by the Fascists papers under direct instructions from the Government there. One read: “Insist on the eventuality of Eden leaving the Foreign Office. Have sent from London news of Eden’s dismissal.” Another of interest read: “Stress any unfortunate*incidents that may happen during the Coronation celebrations.” When an attempt was made to assassinate the President of Portugal an Italian paper announced that it had been arranged by the British secret service, while the broadcasts to the Moslem world preached the doctrine that the British Empire was decadent, the fleet a museum piece, and Mr. Eden “a clown in the hands of the Masons.” After giving the House these particulars Lieut-Commander Fletcher said that Britain recently had concluded a “gentlemen’s agreement” with Italy. “ I have heard a gentlemen's agreement defined as one in which a man who is a gentleman agrees to call the other party a gentleman although he knows that he is not one.” The reply from the Government benches was also very frank. Efforts were being made to supply regularly a broadcast service that would be reliable. “It seems to me,” the Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office said, “that there could be nothing that could so embitter relations between two nations than this constant stream of irritating material, and I believe that it must take a large share of the blame for the situation that exists in the world to-day.” The Italian Government had been told that unless this hostile propaganda ceased it would be impossible to create the atmosphere necessary for conversations designed to improve relations between the two countries. A change has come over the scene, and with his forces distributed in Abyssinia, Libya, and Spain, Signor Mussolini realises that his position is not satisfactory. If Germany should adopt a more aggressive policy with respect to Austria then Italian interests of a very vital order would be involved. The Fascists do not forget that in the territory they acquired in the Tyrol after the war there are 800,000 German-speaking people and that their inclusion in a glorified Reich could be effected only at the expense of Italy. The BerlinHome axis may be subjected soon to its first real test. When it was changed into a triangular arrangement, to include Japan, the Italian spokesmen stressed the fact that it represented over 200,000,000 people and was so strong that it could face the world. It may not prove to he quite as strong as was expected, and the need for a good friend may be felt. It so happens that for very many years AngloItalian relations were of the most friendly character, and experience may teach the Duce that the old policy, which had proved helpful to Italy is after all the best. But to ensure its stability there will have o he some guarantee of observance of international agreements. A rapprochement on any other basis would be too brittle.