The Waikato Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1941. HITLER’S PROMISE TO ITALY

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21374, 19 March 1941, Page 4

The Waikato Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1941. HITLER’S PROMISE TO ITALY

Probably because Italy in recent days has suffered the most serious reverses of the war, Hitler is again attempting to buttress the Italian morale by promises of speedy assistance on a grand scale. Mussolini is reported to have returned to Rome from Albania with the greatest loss of prestige he has ever suffered. For a whole week he drove his unwilling troops against Greek guns and bayonets to suffer an estimated loss of 50,000 men. Not a yard of ground was gained. In such circumstances Hitler is bound to offer aid lest the Italians should lose faith in the Axis. But on what terms will Germany go to Italy’s rescue ? There is a growing conviction that Hitler may demand Italy’s virtual capitulation to Germany and the surrender of authority to the Fuehrer. There lies one of the chief perils facing the Axis. Mussolini is as arrogant and ambitious as Hitler, and the feeling between the two peoples is not and never has been friendly. Europe is not large enough to hold two such dictators. Eventually, if the Axis survives long enough, one must gain the ascendancy, and it is not likely to be Mussolini. Will Mussolini, having practically lost his overseas empire and now failed to make any impression on the Greeks, be willing to hand the control of the Balkan and Mediterranean campaign to Hitler ? Will Hitler, without some such gesture, be willing to light out the main issue in the Balkans and the Mediterranean ? Of course Hitler must make a show of friendliness towards Italy, especially now that the Italians are in a condition of mind approaching despair, but to recast his whole plan of the war because of Italy’s failure is certainly galling to the German dictator. Hitler in his speech on Heroes’ Day was more subdued than usual. He fell back mostly on his old arguments and made only indirect references to the most important, developments of the period—America’s decision to work for the victory of the Allies. “ Providence,” he said, “ will let nobody be victorious who, by the depth of his gold bags, seeks to dominate the world.” Hitler, it might be remarked, is poorly qualified to speak for Providence. “ Britain and France,” Hitler declared, “ wanted the war—not so much the people but small political and financial circles among them, and acting as the motive force was international Jewry and its world conspirators, democracy and Freemasonry.” These ancient arguments have lost their potency. Hitler is not fighting Jewry or Freemasonry, to his sorrow, but ordinary men and women who uphold democracy as something very precious. But Hitler’s problem remains. How and where can he save Italy from collapse ? He declares that during the winter “ our Italian allies had to bear the full brunt and weight of the enemy. Now the German Army will fully share the burden. The German Army has been enormously strengthened and is determined to fulfil what it began in 1940.” Hitler apparently has the choice of moving down through Italy to begin anew the campaign in Libya, if his forces can cross the Mediterranean, or of continuing the drive into the Balkans. It seems probable that he will choose the latter course, and therefore the Balkan theatre remains a crucial point. Yugoslavia's reaction to developments elsewhere are being watched with great interest. And Germany has reached the frontier of Greece. Why is she hesitating there ?