Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1931 IMPROVED EUROPEAN OUTLOOK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 22 January 1931, Page 6

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1931 IMPROVED EUROPEAN OUTLOOK

WE published, on Monday last, a cablegram which said that it was understood in Paris that “a practically complete Franco-Italian naval agreement has been reached, the only question, that, of submarines, being unsettled. It will be remembered that, under the Washington Treaty, France and Italy already have parity in relation to battleships. They have now agreed, it would appear, to limit the number of 10,000-ton cruisers which each shall possess; France limiting herself to seven, and Italy to six. in reference to submarines' it is i eported that France wants under-water craft “aggregating 75,000 tons to Italy s 45,000 tons,” while the hitter country

“is holding out for 52,700 tons in submarines.” It was only the other day that we printed a report that, in every arsenal and dockyard in Italy, the work of increasing and equipping that country’s navy was proceeding with feverish activity. A month or two ago an eminent contributor to “The Fortnightly Review” was saying, in reference to tho naval situation in the Mediterranean: Naval parity between F ranee, with her world-wide empire, and . Italy, whose power is concentrated in tho Mediterranean, would mean Italian superiority in the only region of possible conflict. Unfortunately, the possibility of such a conflict cannot be ignored.

And yet, but a few weeks after those words were printed. France and Italy, it is reported, have come to an almost complete agreement in regard to the limitation of their respective naval armaments. What has brought about this admirable arrangement? What forces have dissipated the atmosphere of distrust which was preventing the two most important of the Latin nations from coming to a good understanding? Possibly Signor Mussolini’s recent speech, in which he said that Italy would never go to war unless she wero taken by the throat, may have paved the way to a better understanding with France. Perhaos M. Briand, desirous of creating at Geneva an atmosphere favourable. to his groat plan for unifying Europe, may have influenced the French Government to take a propitiatory stop which has led to the naval agreement with Italy. Whatever the underlying causes which have led to the much-de-sired arrangement between the two countries, the effect on the European situation cannot but be beneficial. There is no doubt that the tension caused by FrancoI. til Han naval rivalry causing uneasiness in other European countries. It was reported that Spain was determined “to strengthen at all costs her position as the fourth naval Power of Europe,” that Jugo-Slavia was purchasing large supplies of ammunition, so that she should not be caught at a disadvantage in case of emergency; and it was even said that Portugal had decided to spend twelve millions sterling on the modernisliing of her fleet. These preparations caused “The Saturday Review” to ask: Does all this mean, then, as the pessimists would have us believe, that a. reduction of armaments is impossible, and that the world is inevitably committed to another outbreak of hostilities upon an extended scale in the

near future? The answer now, we think, may safely be in the negative. Franco is the keynation of the Continent of Europe. She has behind her the nations of the Little Entente. It was not clear to all observers thaL her chief desire was for the preservation of peace. Among those who doubted her bona fid os was the Dictator of Italy: hence the heart-burning over Tunis, which Italians are prone to consider “an Italian colony governed by the French,” and the feeling of uncertainty which prevailed in Southern Europe. If we are not mistaken, the European situation will be greatly improved by the Franco-Italian naval agreement, since the reaching of a good understanding on so important a matter should lead to th.> solution of other outstanding difficulties between the two nations. With France and Italy living on amiable terms, if should not be long before a better tone is evident in the Balkans; and everywhere in Europe there should 1m increased confidence in the maintenance of peace.