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The Timaru Herald MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1926. PENDULUM OF POWER.

Curiously enmig-li while the 1 Prime Minister in his capacity ns Praricleiii', of the British Classical .Associntion was asking-: Can the Roman Empire. be said to have perished when its laws, and thought and. influence' survive so hugely not only in Europe' but in the British Empire overseas, expression was • being- given in Italy to hopes that the' Roman Empire, so far from having perished, is on the- point of beingrevived. Air Baldwin asked: “Who can say how much the British people owe to the Roman influence- in the first four centuries of the prase-lit era.—of Roman law, Roman discipline, Roman partnership in a common Empire ?” In a linei passage, in which he spoke of the British Empire as the youngest of the family of the Roman Empire', Mr Baldwin recalled how, with little experience to- guide her, Rome ran her mighty race hearing her torch on high. When her hard course. was run, the PrimeMinister reminded his hearers, the torch , was passed to other hands, who bore it forward according- to the streng-tli and guidance that, was in them, until after many centuries it passed 1o tbC' Brit isii Empire—tlieyo-uiig-est. son ! This claim is disputed by the Fascists of Italy, who- say that the fallen torch of Roman prestige and glory has been caught up by Latin bands and the mighty Roman Empire will live again in da/,sling splendour and spread-eagle influence. “Why did the Roman Empire come into existence at all,'’ Mr Baldwin asks fascinatingly, “and why, having conn' into existence, did it- perish?” Both All Baldwin and Signor Mussolini fliul a common ground for agreement on the point (hat- the spirit, of Rome was indestructible and lives on, “woven into the stuff of other men's lives.” Air Baldwin seems to insist that' the principles of democratic, government which first blossomed in Greece', and almost vanished in the Roman Empire were destined to- be planted in a commonwealth of fice and enlightened nations which now spread its liberatinginfluence until it includes races, moic numerous and diverse than ever obeyed Rome. But Signor Mussolini contemplates a grant, revival of the spirit of Rome; lie aims at nothing less than the formation of a new Latin. Empire, including not only the African possessions of Franco, Italy, and Spain, hut also France, Spain, and .Portugal—a solid bloc of SO millions of people. As the commentators say, Fascist: Italy has done many challenging things, but. the gre-a lest, would surely be any attempt, to revivify and icuni.C' regions over which. “Rome, the Empress of the world, of yoro her eagle wings unfurled.” Blit ambitious Atussolini -aims at some thing even greater, and a glance, at the map. of Europe will emphasise the. significance of the Lahin-Sluv negotiations now proceeding, which are designed to creak, a vast, wide-sweeping vyce having its jaws stretching to the .English Chillincl in the west., and the Baltic in the east, completely gripping Central Euroix* in a lipiiiy instrument, with its hinge at Pome. Hence ('lose, students of the march of world politics arc anxiously scanning the horizon and asking themselves if another seeker after world dominion has arisen to Ihroalrn, if not break, the peace of the world. All Europe is watching the. manoeuvres of Franco and Italy to gain influence with the Little Entente. It. is not denied that Italy is steadily attempting- to scheme a controlling' influence l in countries (dong- the Danube'. Signor Mussolini is bitterly jealous of Franco's authority with the Little- Entente, ho;- many months France was negotiating with Jugo-Slavia for a treaty of mutual guarantee, against Germany, and in tended, to invito Italy to join. Italy, however, forestalled Franco by making- the public pronouncement Hint she would not tolerate an Austro-German union. Tliis accords with the policy of the E-ithlei Entente, and hostility to this union is secretly cherished by Franc!’, who has been carrying on clandestine negotiations in which the possibility of participating- in nu Italo-.lugo-Slav treaty has been closely examined. France is not altogether master of her own actions, however, since, her Locarno obligations compel her to submit, to arbitration any ditl'eieuces with Germany, while Tialv and Jugo.Slavia have free- hands. The cable messages reported the other day that: the Jugo-Slav Foreign Minister (Al. Ninchitch) hasrecently hern busy on a- pilgrimagiy to a number of European capitals. The. Al.inist.er left Baris alter what, the newspapers term an “interesting conversation.” M. Nineliitch previously negotiated with the Italians at Rome, and at Geneva, where, according to French newspapers, the Italians sought a bi-lateral treaty supplementing- tin’, existing italo•lugo Slav Fact of friendship, hut .M. Aimhiteli desired the inclusion of Fiance in (hut. li'eaty. He is now taking back an offer from Al. Briand of a. treaty of friendship, designed fo be co-lateral with any agreement subsequently concluded between Belgrade, and Romo, which, if adopted, -would place .France in tin 1 same, relationship with -i ugo-Slavia as. with (-zecho-Slovnkia with an obligation of mutual assistance. The fact. (Iml. Al. A inch i toil has other irons on flu- tire disclosed, the cable messages suggested, by an

interview with the Greek Foreign Alin is ter (Al. Ro/.phos) at. Belgrade, who said it- was .so sal-is-iacdory that lie expected to see a complete. agreement reached between the. two States. He added that: though at present, it. was premature, to talk of the concrete terms of a Balkan Pact, lie. was convinced all outstanding' questions between, the two States would be settled. Calm contemplation of the politico-racial negotiations between. Germany’s former enemies, pi (weeding almost secretly outside Ihe League of Nations, has created well-grounded suspicion that: the real purpose behind Franco's insistence of Poland’s rights to a permanent seat on the Council of the. League, and Italy’s support. of the demands of Spain and Brazil, is the estahlishroenl. of a permanent- and powerful autiGerman or Slav-Im-tin bloc within the Council of the Leag-ue.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19260329.2.32

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 March 1926, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
988

The Timaru Herald MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1926. PENDULUM OF POWER. Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 March 1926, Page 8

The Timaru Herald MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1926. PENDULUM OF POWER. Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 March 1926, Page 8

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