THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 27, 1940
CHINA MAIL
WINDSOR HOUSE
PARALLELS
the Although Great Britain is island heart of a far-flung Empire and the United States is à vast continental area, there are many parallels in their world positions. Both depend upon seapower for defence, and have made no effort in times of peace to maintain arm- ies comparable to those of other Great Powers. Unless Britain can hold sea supremacy her Em- pire can be destroyed. Unless the United States can do like- wise, the Munroe Doctrine can be denied.
National policy in both English- speaking countries is directly de-
endent upon the support ublic opinion, particularly in the race of positive measures to re-
hare the danger of war.
There has long been in Great
tam a powerful public supporti e a policy of political Isolation' *ward- Europe. Filty years ago. shem no European Power actively) crdoneered British security, lomats Isolation was the ac- opted policy of the British Gov-| e. But after 1900, when the growing menace of Imperial Germany began to loom across the North Sea. Britain was con- pelled to sacrifice more and more! of her political isolation. Its basis of unchallenged national security against Europe had been destroy- ed.
THE
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
LOOKING IT IN THE EYE
(Copyright in All Countries.]
Il Duce's Gamble
the
The subsidence of the German menace in 1918 was followed by a resurgence of isolationist senti- ment in Britain, sufficiently pow- erful-to-limit-British.commitments
War-alone-brings-all-human throw off the mask. Not a shadow the efforts made by Mr. Cham-month later of the Treaty of Al- towards Europe within the League
that at the berlain for energies to their highest tension of doubt can exist
to bury the Abyssinianliance-1-have-mentioned-a-pact machinery and preclude, twenty years, any definite guar-and imprints a seal of nobility on Brenner meeting Hitler disclosed batchet. The goal of appeasement of mutual assistance in aggression antees towards Eastern Europe. It the peoples who have the virtue to his fellow-conspirator his plans appeared at least to have been at which was clearly directed against
A doctrine. which to attack Scandinavia, Holland tained with the signing of the ourselves and France, and look the acute German menace. into face it. 1939 to impel her, at the eleventh has its starting point at the pre- and Belgium and secured his un-Anglo-Italian agreement of April fruits of which have now begun
to be harvested: hour, to give guarantees in East- judicial postulate of peace is ex-dertaking to join in the grand o1-16, 1938.
fensive.
The main purport of. this agree- The simple truth is, all his ern Europe which, given carlier, traneous to Fascism."
with Mr. -Mussolini. What then is the motive that has ment was a disclaimer, by both friendly exchanges, might have insured peace.
[Article on Fascism in the En-drawn Mussolini into an unnatural Powers "of any desire to modify, Chamberlain and his professions The United States, where politi-
alliance with a partner who, or, as far as they are concerned, about relations having been placed cal isolation from Europe has hadiclopedia. Italiano.)
The veil is now abruptly lifted victory is won, will not scruple to to see modified the status quo as on a solid and durable base were far wider support and a far firmer
trcut Italy as he has treated regards the national sovereignty ablatant and barefaced hypo-. foundation of national security, on the much-debated, "non-bellig- Czechoslovakia and Poland, Den- of territory in the Mediterranean crisy. also relinquished this policy un-erency" of Italy during the earmark and Norway, Belgium and area, an undertaking by. Great His real mind was spoken away der menace during the Worldly period: of the war. Mussolini Holland?
Britain to recognise the Abyssinian back in May, 1919, in the Teatro War. After the war, an extreme has at length. proved what many
At first sight it might seem as-conquest, and a detailed settlement Verdi at Flume, at a time when reaction followed, and under suspected that his sham-neu- tonishing that a man of Musso-of all specific differences between he was still unknown even in-his Harding and Coolidge America trality of the past nine months was lini's shrewdness cannot see that the two countries. was far more isolationist than a mere strategic delay pour mieux under McKinley, Theodore Roose-sauter at the appropriate moment. a victorious Hitler is not the man velt, and Taft: Many observers For a time it appeared plausible to share dominion with anybody
Immediately after the signing Mediterranean, with the prize. of. Trieste only a believe that even the most nega to interpret, his inaction as evi- or to stop at the Brenner frontier tive kind of commitment towards dence, of a breach in the Axis,
of the agreement Mussolini de- the English." Europe during the '20's, such as since he had clearly failed to im- few score miles beyond.
The explanation can be stated clared in a telegram-to-Mr. Cham-
To encompass that banishment co-operation with the League to plement the main operative clause!
in a words. It is.that the consum-berlain that "to have settled in has been his secret but inflexible Treaty of! the extent of promising not to in the Italo-German
ing ambition. of Mussolini's life.. is so full and frank a fashion, the resolve since the day of his advent assist an aggressor, would have Alliance of. May. 22, 1939.
The clause declared that "if it to see himself strutting in the questions outstanding between us to power. Except for a premature prevented the shape of things!
against the mantle of the Caesars, creating a places the relations between Eng exhibition of his true colours in his which led to the present war. But should. happen that,
Roman empire, lording it land and Italy on a solid and outrage against Corfu in 1923, the even during the growing danger wishes and hopes of the contract-
of his regime the Mediterranean and durable basis." He used precisely first dozen years of the '30's, no such step was ing, parties, one of them becomes over
half similar language six months later were marked by an outward ap- on the formal ratification, and pearance of correctness. and de- taken, and the arms embargo, an involved in war-like complica-spreading his
again on the occasion of the visit cency in his international rela- encouragement to aggressors, was tions with another Power or with
of Mr. Chamberlain and Lord tions. That was while he was not lifted until after the war be-other Powers the other contract- ing party will come to its aid as
unostentatiously. Halifax, to Rome in January, 1989, steadily, but gan.
which by every appearance set the building up the military strength Now, as in the case of Britain, an ally and will support it with isolation may
seal on the reconciliation between of the country and awaiting the prove untenable all its military forces on land, on.
the two countries.
Jappearance of
diplomatic When Mr. Hearst makes this pre-land, on sea and in the air."
What since then has been done constellation favourable to or left undone on our side, to dis- deep-laid schemes.
one.
DOUBT AND DELAY
new.
sway over
By J. C. Johnstone
MUSSOLINI'S POSÉ
of our relations? Nothing, abso-
own-country as anything more |than a soap-box orator. "The first thing to be done (he exclaimed) is to banish foreigners from the beginning with
his
diction, it is not because he is pro- British.
Americans widely condemned the policy of Britain during the Some colour was lent to the Africa. The immediate obstacles turb the "solid and durable basis”
"THE GOAL OF FASCISM" Hitler years. Do they see, how-doubt by the circumstance that to the realisation of this ambition lutely nothing. Mussolini, on the
His first kick over the traces ever, that our own policy has been Hitler had apparently concluded are France and more especially other hand, has piled one con-
was in Abyssinia. Before the event basically parallel and has produc-his Russian pact without consult-Great Britain.
Mussolini ed two similar results?
ofing his Axis partner as required
calculates that the tumely on another. One
No sooner had the Abyssinian the conquest of that country was these has been the fading of for-by another clause in the Treaty. spoils to be snatched from the ruin]
excuse of these two empires would pro-conquest been recognised and the represented as a necessary act of
self-defence against eign support, the other the pros-That would have been
an intoler- pect of having to take nine stit- enough, certainly, for keeping out vide an ample shareout for Hitler agreement ratified than Musso- thes because they did not take of the conflict, if Mussolini had as well as himself without the lini provoked out of the blue an ably barbarous, aggressive and genuinely wanted one. Shortly necessity for a quarrel over the atmosphere of extreme acrimony irresponsible neighbour. After the Great Britain had fifty nations after the Brenner meeting in division. At any rate, he regards against France with a whole series event it was a very different tune.
however, Italian with her in seeking to stop the March,
pro- the quarrel as a secondary risk on of vociferous but unspecified de- "From the first day of its founda- assault upon. Ethiopia, but only paganda began to adopt a tone of which he is prepared to take his mands about Corsica, Nice, Savoy, tion," boasted Mussolini, "the goal than that there Tunis, Suez, Jibuti and what not. of Fascism was the empire, and France at her side when Poland extreme. hostility and menace to-chance rather
should be no share-out at all. Moreover, in April, 1930, he this has now been reached."
In Mussolini's mind Abyssinia was attacked. The United States) wards the Allies..
occupied Albania în flagrant vio- had most of the world on her side Whether or not as a result of
AGREEING WITH BRITAIN lation of his pledges about the is but the first small instalment and a public promise that Britain that meeting,, Mussolini had now
status quo In the Mediterranean of empire. The effusions of his would keep in step" after Japan evidently resolved to swallow the invaded: China in 1987. But U.S. Russian pill and to throw in his| Outwardly, the animosity which area. Even then Mr. Chamber-scribes during the past three or shrank from a firm stand then, and lot with his Axis partner.
has now culminated, in the first lain did not despair. "I believe four years, and especially during now, if events force them to res- Whatever his reasons for not war in history between Italy and (he said in the House of Com-these last weeks, have made it Britain dates from the mons on the morrow of the Al-abundantly plain that he regards train Japanese aggression, no joining Hitler at the outset there Great effective foreign support will be is nothing in the subsequent at- Abyssinian war and the Sanctions banian aggression) there will be himself as the predestined heir to ayailable.
titude of the Allies towards Italy episode. But it would be a mis- a widespread desire, all the great- the African empires and Medi- Great Britain could also have which could possibly have justi- take to imagine that Mussolini ig er because of the uneasiness that terranean sea-power of France Mussolini has himself, of course, stopped Germany with relative fed him in changing his mind. actuated only, or oven primarily, now prevails, to see the fulfilment and Britain.
a vendetta. over Sanctions. of the remaining provisions of the ease during the occupation of the any grievances arising out of the by Rhineland in 1980. But she pre-blockade: were promptly rectified Abyssinia and Sanctions were the Agreement and, naturally, in view never avowed his purpose openly. ferred. to. hope that no forceful and an almost extravagant in-symptom, ot; the cause, of an of the recently events, it is to the But if the Allies were to be de- action would be required, and indulgence has been shown towards antagonism conjured up. by Mus- Italian Government that I look for feated in this war the same exult- own. grandiose. dreams. practical evidence that they share ant refrain would recur as after Abyssinia. "From the first: day now.compelled, to make a maxi-his, activities, as chief smuggling solini's
Even if we had offered no opposi-that-desire."
of its foundation," he would be mum national effort. 'American agent for German contraband.
WHAT, 18 HIG, MOTIVE? tton to his Abyssinian aggression.it
heard, shouting: to. His assembled- action has been. parallel, towards
BAREFACED HYPOCRISY And both Japan and Germany.
There is but one, conclusion-is extremely unlikely that our for
Blackshirts, the goal of Eawalsm now only an Allled victory seems that he had already made up his bearance would have avalled, to
The "practical evidence" shown was the expulsion of the English likely to insure that this action mind, in September and that he avert the present conflict.
merely Nothing could have surpassed by the Italian Government: was from the Mediterranean, and this will not; sooner or later, produce has evon since. been
alhas now been reached?!"' a similar result.
uwaiting the appointed hour to the patience and persistence of the conclusion with Hitler
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