WATCH BY ITALY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 8

WATCH BY ITALY

SHADOW OF RUSSIA FEARS IN BALKANS LONDON. Nov. 6. Italy's insistence upon the vigour of her military spirit and her preparedness has become increasingly significant as the German and Russian shadows loom more darkly over the Balkans. Of these twin shadows it is commonly agreed that the shadow of Russia is by far the darker. Signor Mussolini made one of the briefest speeches of his career on Italian Armistice Day, the anniverary of the Austrian surrender at Vittorio Veneto on November 4. 1918.

“In memory of what was accomplished,’’ he said, “we bend our will and our forces towards the morrow.”

It is believed that the implicit warning to the outside world contained in this statement was directed as much against Germany and Russia as against Britain and France. Army Conferences

There is no evidence on which to support the belief that Signor Mussolini’s conferences with his army chiefs —which began yesterday, and which may continue intermittently for a week or a fortnight—and the increase in the number of cadres which he authorised, portend consideration of a change of Italian oolicy in the war. This policy was defined on September 1. when it was officially stated that Italy would not take any military initiative.

While this week, as in the past week, British and French interest lias been focussed on the Northern Baltic as a result of the tension between Finland and Russia, Italy's interest has been no less attracted, since it is expected that the future Rumanian policy will be strongly influenced by the outcome of the Rus-sio-Finnish affair.

Indeed, the whole of the Balkan countries are scrutinising the negotiations between Russia and Finland with the utmost care, and with no little anxiety.

Semi-official circles and diplomatic quarters in Rome are finding comfort in a reliable impression that Turkey would fight to resist any attempt to destroy peace in the Balkans from whatever quarter it came.