French and Italians It will be interesting to see what
fruit (if any) the Four- Power Pact will bear first. As soon as it was initialled Signor Mussolini made a speech emphasizing the impor- tance of its references to Article XIX of the Covenant, concerning the revision of treaties, and M. Paul-Boncour addressed a letter to Poland and the -Little Entente, de- monstrating how completely the dangers of any effective appeal to Article XIX had been averted. In spite of that there are signs that France and Italy are less alienated from each other than for months past. Signor Mussolini has been studiously cordial in his references to his western neighbour, and his wise decision to release the French Professor Eydoux, who was serving a sentence of imprison- ment for espionage, made an excellent impression in France. The speech of M. Daladier in the French Cham- ber, and the majority by which the Pact was approved by that body, have created an equally good impression in Italy. The principal questions which trouble relations between the two countries are naval disarmament and contacts in Tunis and Tripoli, but the psychological factor is most important of all. With Signor Mussolini in a realist mood, a government of the left in office in Paris, and a French Ambassador (M. de Jouvenel) at Rome laudably ambitious of achievement, the outlook is defin- itely hopeful.
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