(4 of 5)
His Majesty's Government leaned over backward last week in attempts to keep Benito Mussolini from becoming personally riled, it being obvious that a single rash order from the Dictator could start Italian submarines torpedoing British ships. Italian bombing planes raining death on Malta. Just before Captain Eden, British League of Nations Minister, got the League to proceed under Article XV, Sir Samuel Hoare. British Foreign Secretary, caused to be delivered to Il Duce a cordial and friendly message in which Sir Samuel recalled that during the War he was a British intelligence officer in Italy and never thinks of Eternal Rome without emotion. In London, Winston Churchill. M. P.. who recently ended his feud with Mr. Baldwin (TIME, Sept. 2). made a few remarks suggestive of what His Majesty's Government were trying to get over to Il Duce.
''I must express my surprise," cried Mr. Churchill, ''that so great a man and wise a ruler as Signor Mussolini should be willing, even eager, to put his gallant Nation into such an uncomfortable military and financial position. . . . The day will come when Italy will be grateful to an old friend like Britain for helping to keep her out of a deadly trap. . . . There are some powers in Europe who would be quite glad to see Italy get In a thoroughly compromised and dependent position. We are not one of them. . . . We have held our position in the Mediterranean, which was gained for us under the guidance of the great Duke of Marlborough,* for more than two centuries, and I know of no reason why we should not be capable of maintaining it at the present time."
Released this week was the text of Sir Samuel Hoare's polite rebuff to French Ambassador Corbin three weeks ago. France had asked whether, in case Germany should further violate the Treaty of Versailles, or make war or seize Austria by whatever means. Britain would then take the same attitude toward Germany she was taking last week toward Italy. Sir Samuel omitted to answer these pointed questions in 1,200 words which were largely a rehash of his latest Geneva speech (TiME, Sept. 23). Added he: ''There may be degrees of culpability and degrees of aggression. . . . Elasticity is a part of Security. . . . The world is not static." Obliged to gloss over Britain's siding with Germany in tearing up the naval clauses of the Treaty of Versailles, Sir Samuel excused this as a mere "negative act of failure to fulfill the terms of a treaty," like Britain's neglect to pay her War debt to the U. S. He indicated that His Majesty's Government cannot be expected to become excited about negative acts, however much they are aroused by a "positive act of unprovoked aggression."