The comments from Italy on the unpleasant accentuation of the submarine peril in the Mediterranean are constructively helpful. They avoid any appearance of desiring to aggravate the situation and it is significant that the offeial Italian organ goes out of its way to emphasize that the impending meeting between Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini does not prejudice the movement toward better relations with England, Most important is the declaration that the close ce-operation between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy does not imply a desire to develop a policy of "isolation", This is a reasonable response to Great Britain's insistence on her right to avoid ideological doctrines in determining her foreign contacts, Not quite as satisfactory is the highly-coloured comment of the Soviet press which decorates its Fascist opponents with curious epithets. The dispassionate observer is apt to form the opinion that violence in language is resorted to for the purpose of concealing a feebleness in policy. At all events Great Britain and France are taking practical measures for reassuring all disputants by the simple device of protecting their shipping against submarine attacks. Tt is suggested from one quarter that this system will be reinforced by sinking the offenders "without trace"—a tactful method of avoiding inconvenient identification. It may also have the further advantage of deterring submarine commanders from being too negligent in ascertaining the character of the vessel selected for attack,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.