Italy's Intentions
Italy's attitude has not materially changed in the past week, and her intentions remain a matter of speculation. Her newspapers and some of her politicians continue to bandy menaces to the Allies in outrageous and indecent language, Which has by this time become so familiar that it provokes little comment. But the reluctance of the country to contem- plate war is dear. The Vatican is working ceaselessly, and by no means ineffectively, for peace—a peace sermon by the Pope last Sunday evoked a remarkable popular response—and there is little doubt that the Royal Family is exerting its influence in the same direction. But the final decision rests with Signor Mussolini, and there is no reason for believing that the country would not follow him, however reluctantly, into war. At present he seems convinced that Germany must win and that he must join her in time for Italy to get her share of the spoil. This applies particularly to a threatened attack by Germany on Yugoslavia. The arrival in the Mediterranean of a powerful Allied fleet—which Italian writers who have been threatening war on the Allies for months find inexplicable and provocative—. may exercise some restraining influence. But Signor Mussolini has already served Herr Hitler well in so far as Italian threats caused us to hesitate to risk ships in Norway which might be needed in the Mediterranean.
