13 FEBRUARY 1926, Page 2

* * Herr Stresemann nevertheless could not bring himself to

disbelieve in all the alleged facts about Italianization, and he declared (in words which would have been better left unsaid at such a moment) that the German minority in Southern Tirol must be allowed to preserve its attach- ment to German civilization and to the community of German culture. If the correspondent of the Times is right in saying that all German parties are now" solidly in favour" of a carefully organized propaganda for a fundamental change in the Peace Treaties the German Government would be wise to discourage this unofficial movement so far as it reasonably can in order to bring its cause untainted by prejudice and rancour before the League of Nations. This is exactly one of those instances into which the League can inquire. The League could no doubt suggest methods of tolerance which would be acceptable—at least to all men who truly desire peace. We shall not pay too much attention at present to Signor Mussolini's further speech on Wednesday, in which he repeated the sense of his first speech and seemed to rule out the League by saying that Italy would accept no decisions but her own.