Czech Accord

M. Eduard Benes, CzechoSlovakian Foreign Minister, arrived in Rome fresh from his conversations with M. Momtchilo Nintchitch, Foreign Minister of Yugo-Slavia. Not long was it before Eduard and Benito were locked in conclave. Not long after that came the news that each liked the other and had seen fit to draw up a treaty of friendship between their respective countries: 1) State of friendship is established, both countries are to examine all differences which may arise between them in a spirit of friendship and tolerance.

2) Both States promised to maintain the status quo in Central Europe, to preserve peace, to observe existing treaties, especially those of St. Germain (Austria), Trianon (Hungary), Neuilly (Bulgaria).

3) The two States agreed that each shall seek to exert its good offices to obtain a peaceful settlement of dispute that may arise between the other and a third Power.

4) When a peaceful settlement is not possible, the two Powers agreed to meet and consider the advisability of taking concerted action and to decide the form the punishment shall take.

Ratification of the treaty was expected soon, as President Mazaryk of Czecho-Slovakia was sojourning in Sicily.

Said Eduard after the conclave: "Our country is rich and prosperous and we, therefore, have everything to lose and nothing to gain by any change. The object of my policy, therefore, has been to consolidate our present position by working hard to create a network of treaties around Czecho-Slovakia to guarantee her against any setting aside of the existing peace treaties which lay down her independence and status.

"Within our membership in the Little Entente on the one hand and our treaties with France and Italy we now feel safe, as we consider that peace in Central Europe is assured."

Czecho-Slovakia, Rumania and Yugoslavia were the original members of the Little Entente. All three Powers have now agreements, military and otherwise, with France, which makes her virtually a member of the Little Entente. Recently (TIME, March 3), Italy concluded a treaty with Yugoslavia, now Italy has concluded a treaty with Czecho-Slovakia. Taking into consideration the fact that a treaty exists between France and Poland and one is said to exist between Poland and Italy, the total membership of the not very little Entente would seem to include Poland, France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Yugo-Slavia and Rumania-nations totaling nearly 750,000 square miles 146,600,000 people and standing Armies of approximately 1,700,000 men.