Maddox Says Mussolini's Declaration Will Put Europe's Political Circles in State of Confusion

"Mussolini's manifesto that Italy will defend the political independence of Austria and Hungary will throw European political circles into a state of confusion," said William P. Maddox, instructor in Government, in an interview with the CRIMSON yesterday. "However, this declaration will probably ease the war situation temporarily. The little entente, Czechoslovakia, Yugo-Slavia, and Rumania desire to preserve Austrian independence; France also followed this policy, with Germany in mind as the strongest possibility of danger. Now that Italy has entered into the affair the probabilities of Austro-Hungarian dependence upon Italy is greatly increased. The little entente doesn't want German political influence in Austria, but probably dislikes Italian interference less, although it wouldn't welcome it. France, which has been trying to build up a group of satellites in Central and Eastern Europe, is now faced with the alternative of opposing Italian influence in Central Europe, a situation which would be unsatisfactory to France because it would assure German control in Austria, or accepting it and facing the possibility of the growth of Italian expansion in Central Europe.

"Mussolini's decision will be an assurance of security to the small powers in Europe; Italy seems to be the only country in Europe which says what she means, and through this latest act ought to strengthen the other countries by checking the Nazi Anschluss in Austria.

"Mussolini blamed the heavily-armed nations for their failure to disarm, but under Article Eight of the League of Nations Covenant in the Treaty of Versailles, nations can only be forced to disarm to that point where they are able to protect their national safety, and this point varies according to the wishes of each nation.

"Italy no longer wants to scrap the League, but accepts it as part of the world order. The Italians are still interested in its reform, and, in fact, in strengthening it, although Mussolini has said that the League will collapse if the disarmament conference is wrecked. The conference will not be successful in a strict sense, but it can hope to prevent an armament race by stabilizing arms and by permitting German re-armament."