July 24.
While none of the news agencies seem to agree upon what is the Jexact state of affairs between Italy land Germany over the latter's policy with regard to Austria, there enough indication of the possibility of trouble to arouse the gravest Janxiety. And that not only because Jot the inherent probabilities of the situation as it appears to stand at present, but because of the intense feelings evidenced in most of the Jcountries involved or likely to be-Jcome.so. This much is clear; if Jany understanding was arrived at the recent meeting between Herr }Hitter and Signor Mussolini it is just about as likely to last as ong Jas the Concordat arrived at between the German Government and_ the Vatican, and it is a little dim cult to see how far the results in either Jcase have been due to sheer misfortune or to recalcitrancy on one side or the other. Undoubtedly there has been a serious recrudes-
Jcence of terrorist activities in Aus-ria. How far the German Nazis Jare implicated in them remains to be seen, but the fact that Herr }Frauenfeld, former leader of the JAustrian Nazis, who escaped into Germany, is being allowed to con-Jduct broadcasting against the Austrian" government from Munich, does suggest that the German authorities are not doing all in their Jpower. to restrain the activities of their own followers or those who happen to think with them. The situation is all the graver because lof the manifest interest of the German Nazis in seeing that Austria Jassumes the same sort of govern-Iment, for the purpose of furthering Janschluss the keystone to German policy in Europe, and one which is Jexercising the anxiety of France as well as Italy. It may not always Ibe advisable to accept the ut-iterances of the press as the best Jpossible guide as to what is likely to happen, but in these days when the newspapers of so many countries Jare controlled in a manner such Jas existed never before, greater significance may be attached to them than would otherwise be the Thus the article written by Signor lVigino Gayda in the "Giornale Jc'italia," referring in unfortunate terms to the outrages which it al-egos are being perpetrated in Aus-tio by German agitators. It demands that they shall be stopped, Jand suggests that the further limits fof forbearance on the part of Austrian and world opinion has been reached, while the relations bet-Jween Italy and the Reich had been Jrendered even more difficult. While JReuter suggests that reports that {taly and Germany are on the verge Jof a break are ridiculed in political quarters in Rome, the United Press jin a report published in another Jcolumn claims authority for the statement that Italy will shortly Jabandon Germany to her fate if the German Government is not pre-Jpared to guarantee the immediate cessation of the acts of terrorism throughout Austria, Probably the Jmore reasonable development would Joe for Italy to approach the other [Powers for the purpose of making joint representations to Berlin, though what effect that would ha Jupon the situation it is somewhat Jaimicult to perceive, other tha perhaps, the postponement for time of the ultimate attempt to Jachieve the German objectives in middle Europe. It must be remembered that the ideal underlying the foreign policy of the Reich is to Jobtain a loose federation of the JGerman peoples throughout Europe, irrespective of present national Jboundaries, and to establish a racial junity very much stronger than it is Jat present. That would in the long. run involve mastery of the Danube basin, and it is here that German policy is brought into direct conflict Jwith that of Rome, which also has designs tending in the same dicceion.
It will consequently be seen that the situation as it stands at present one of considerable gravity. The outbreak of civil war in Austria Jespecially if the Dolfuss Jwere in any way imperilled might very well call for active Italian intervention in his behalf, and, it is ito be anticipated, active German resistance to any move which would give Ttaly the dominance along the Danube. The step from ithe present state of terrorism to lone of civil war is by no means 2 big one; from civil_war to an Jactual clash between Rome and the Reich is not a great deal bigger and the ultimate embroilment of the larger portion of Europe by no means so remote as to be a comfortable distance away. There Jeannet be the slightest doubt that [the outbursts in the Eurupean press }do nothing to mend matters. There is to be seen in most of them an intemperance calculated to inflame those very sentiments which it is desirable should be held in the Jereatest possible restraint, Leaders jon all sides have done little better, for some of the more recent utfterances have been provocative in the extreme. But when all this is swept aside the real cause of the whole trouble is to be found either in the positive action of the German [Nazis, or in the failure of the German Government to control its [supporters ina manner best suited to demonstrate its complete authority, always providing it desires to Jeffect such control. Whether collective European representation to Berlin would have the desired effect of producing what the protests of Austria and Italy. have failed to obtain up to the present lis an open question, depending upon linest probably, exactly how far Ger many is prepared to push her point, but it is clear that the attitude of France on certain German questions is by no means likely to change long as Germany suggests a hidden strength by the continuance of her present policies, and clearer still that the sympathetic consideration which Italy has given to the Ger-Iman point of view, will undoubtedly be alienated, and Italy driven more and more to adopt the standpoint of France which has given so much trouble to the other Powers in the past. It is not difficult to Junderstand why that should be. The fact that Germany is pursuing policy which must inevitably lead to a show-down in military terms strengthens French suspicions, must eventually arouse them in' the minds of the Italian government Jand when that day arrives Germany will stand alone in a solitude which will indeed be great, It is sound advice of cour: se to EAT MORE FRUIT, and we really intend to follow it, and then MONOTONY steps in, and we weaken.
Fresh or cooked fruits served with a topping of Nestle's Pure Thick Cream are delightful, and better still are Pineapple and Banana Trifles, when this Cream is used in their making,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.