The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2nd, 1924. EUROPEAN POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2nd, 1924. EUROPEAN POLITICS.

In the course of a recent newspaper interview as regards European politics, some rather remarkable statements were made by Signor Nitti, the former Prime Minister of Italy. Nitti was deposed from office by the Fascists, and has been absent from Rome for some time, but he had returned and was again at his own home. Commenting on the situation the newspaper man thus sums up Italian politics: ‘‘Nitti gave the Socialists advice; Mussolini gave them castor oil To-day Nitti is a man without a party; Mussolini rides Italy. All of which means nothing, for in Italian politics the man makes the party, {'no party does pialce {ho

man. Thus to-day Nitti’s old followers root for Mussolini; to-morrow for a new demagogue and so on. But Signor Nitti, party or no party, stands head and shoulders over his rivals as an economist-statesman and international politician. Before Mussolini deprived him ol' his job, he was professor of economies in the University of Naples, besides tilling an active seat in Parliament, serving as Minister of Finance. Minister of the Treasury, and iinditig time to write a small horary oi internationally famous hooks.’’ But tho most interesting part of tho story told by tho interviewer is the frankness with which Signor Nitti discussed the aftermath of the war and what might be done to clear tho political atmosphere in every capital of Europe. “The war has left two Great Powers in Europe—-France and England,” the ex-Premier began, lighting a cigarette and settling back for a long conversation. “England entered the war because of Belgium so she said. In reality England fought to crush Germtn sea. power. Well, she accomplished this. France, also, had her secret wat aims. Bhc wanted dismemberment of Germany. Continental supremacy is her tradition and history. Witness Francis, l.ouis XIV., Napoleon, and now—Poincare. As far hack as 191 1 she began secret negotiations with Russia for the break-up of Germany. Tho terms of the Armistice were drawn up with that end in view. The world first saw her designs at the Washington Conference when she refused to abolish the submarine. Then she built an air-lleet four times the size of any other Power. So England emerged from the war to lind that she had gained nothing. The German navy was crushed, but a new France coukl cut off the iood supply of her islands in twenty-four hours. France had a definite plan. L ndor tho water with the submarine, over the water with tho airplane, on land with poison gas and black troops—France was supreme. To rule tlie Continent she needed two other factors, iron and coal. She set out to get them. First she. took the Saar Valley, then she put her linger in Upper Silesia and saw that Poland was favoured in its division. Now it is the Ruhr. France talks of reparations. People think that France invaded the Ruhr to secure reparation payments. That is all log. She invaded the Ruhr because she intends to break up Germany. She will keep the Ruhr, as a separate political State, economically a part of T ranee. The Ruhr is only about 120 miles square, hut is the vertebrae of Central Europe. It is the foundation of German industry. 11l it arc more industrial and chemical experts than in all Europe. From it come not only coke, but the chemical products which wore one of Germany’s chief exports. In seizing the Ruhr France ruined Germany. France planned' for all this in her annexes to tho Treaty of Versailles. These annexes were considered unimportant. I doubt if Lloyd George and Wilson took the trouble to read them. But liom France's point of view they were the backbone of the I reaty. In answer to the query what was to be the effect of France’s policy upon Europe, Signor Nitti replied briefly “Chaos and decay.” Then lie went on to give evidence for this conviction. Ho said: “The French national debt to-day, is 350 billion gold francs. The annual deficit of the French Government is 15 billions. France pays neither principal nor interest on her debt, nor her own current government expenses. She deludes her taxpayers with the idea that this debt and deficit will be collected from Germany. She has ruined Germany, and at tho same time collected nothing. Moreover, she has ruined Herself with vain expectations. The two countries have destroyed each other.” Finally, ho was asked what lie thought of the American policy towards Europe, and ho replied with the sweeping statement that America was to blame for the European moss. He arrived at this conclusion on the grounds “Because of American ignorance oi Europe and failure to play a strong hand at the Conference table, but also because the Armistice was not a peace of force me ieure, hut a peace of politics. The German front crumbled because tho Armistice was not a peace of force majetire, but a peace that the Allies wore not lighting the German people, hut only their rulers. Today who is France fighting 'i The German people, is she not? The Americans did not keep their word. Me Italians believe that England is the only country which has made an honest attempt to re-establish peace in Europe. She has to have peace, for upon peace rests her delicate commeicial system.” And then inadvertently he let slip what seemed to he tho crux of his advice. “If America would hack England, France would back down.’’ All or which is very interesting as coming now from a passive onlooker who saw from the inside so much of the diplomatic game when it was at its height.