Anti-Croat

A short time ago France and Jugoslavia solemnly signed a treaty of military alliance. For Jugoslavs it was a guarantee against aggression by Italy. Much relieved, they gave vent to open anti-Italian agitation. Long and loud were the cries that the treaty had "put Italy in her place" and had "shattered Mussolini's aggressive aims in the Balkans."

Last week the answer came from the other side of the Adriatic. In Rome, Naples, Padua; in Florence, Milan, Turin; in Bologna, Venice, Trieste and in many another city "Down with France!" and "Down with Jugoslavia!" resounded. In Rome 2,000 citizens of profound Fascist faith assembled at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and swore blind devotion to any command of their cherished leader, Prime Minister Benito Mussolini.

In Naples students emitted lusty cries of "Down with the Croats!" In Venice roiled crowds attempted to stage a riotous demonstration in front of the French and Jugoslav Consulates, engaging in a pitched battle with the police, their obstructors. After night fell they made a wild but fruitless dash by gondolas on the Jugoslav consular edifice.

In Padua three Jugoslav students "asked for it" by loudly and arrogantly singing a Jugoslav anthem, to which, it was alleged, they somewhat foolishly added insults to Italy, Fascism, Mussolini, always a dangerous procedure in Italy these days. Only the prompt intervention of the police saved these foolhardy youths from a fate that would not have stopped short of cudgelings and castor oil.

Despite these flag-wagging furores, L'Impero, one of the many organs of the Fascist Party, declared that "the calm reigning in Italy, despite Jugoslav provocations, does not mean that we are not indignant. It means that we disciplinarily obey Government orders."

Nevertheless, it was mooted that Signer Mussolini would have something to say on the Franco-Jugoslav treaty when Parliament convenes next month, and that something, all conceded, would be quite up to Il Duce's usual pyrotechnical verbiage.