DIPLOMATIC VISITS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 356, 10 February 1937, Page 6

DIPLOMATIC VISITS.

CENTRAL EUROPE. What Are Realities Of Present Situation? The recent rounds of diplomatic visits in Central Europe have been numerous and varied, said the Vienna correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian” recently. The Yugoslav Prime Minister has been to Budapest; the Italian Foreign Minister has seen Herr Hitler and his Ministers and visited Vienna; King Carol of Roumania hat- been to Czechoslovakia; Dr. Guido Schmidt, of the Austrian Foreign Office, has been received with great courtesy'in Berlin; and, finally, Admiral Horthy, Regent of Hungary, has paid important diplomatic visits to Rome and Vienna. What did all these visits mean to Central Europe? What are the realities of the present situation? All the visits, conferences, and “parades” of the last months are intended to convince the world of the genuineness of the Italo-German rapprochement and to convey the impression that Central and South-Eastern Europe’s fate will in the future be shap'd by Italo-German co-operation. But the truth is that Germany and Italy, while avowedly working- hand in hand, follow entirely different aims. Germany’s (or rather, Herr Hitler’s obsession is Soviet Russia, and her endeavours during the last months were to break the French and Czechoslovak pact systems with Russia. When ordinary blackmail could not achieve this aim she wanted to force Russia into isolation by the antiCommunist front.

But Italy cannot co-operate in this anti-Communist issue. She has no interest in the Ukraine, and she is using the German obsession only so far asi it might promote 'hei- own aims namely, in Spain, where the German anti-B.olshevik idea happens' to suit Italian Imperialist ambitions in the Meditei ranean. In the meantime Italy is deeply worried by the gains which Germany has achieved economically and politically in the Balkans', and while pretending to cooperate with Germany toward an “econoinie compromise” ip the Danubasin this co-operation is intended to serve primarily Italy’s aims. For this reason she is making desperate efforts to reconquer the Yugoslav trade which was lost to her during th o sanctions' period; for the same reason Italy is trying to strengthen her relations with Hungary, as this' country, to her mind, will figure as an important gate into the Balkans. Signor Mussolini was in this line of policy helped no’t only by skilful policy but by providence. The death of Premier Combos' brought a Government to power in Budapest which is ie ss favourable to Berlin Ulan '.'.‘ns its predecessor.