The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 21, 1927, Page 9

° The Conflict Between Italy and Yugo-Slavia [Porm the auspices of French diplomacy and for the protection of the, “peace” treaties against Bulgaria, Hungary, and Austria, the Little Entente was founded, that union of the three states, Czecho- slovakia, Yugoslavia and Roumania with the help of which France desired to guarantee its hegemony in the Balkans. But France’s rival in the Balkans is Great Britain, which likewise endeavors by all means at its disposal to strengthen its influence there. Besides the imperialism of France and Great Britain, however, an aggressive policy is also car- ried on in the Balkans by fascist Italy, which has the advantage over its greater competitors of being far nearer the scene of action. In collaboration with the British imperialists, those of Italy have estab- lished themselves in Bulgaria and are constantly augmenting their influence on Roumania, Greece, and Hungary. In its endeavors to convert the Adri- atic into an Italian sea, Italy has already laid hands on Fiume and is on the way to convert Albanian on the Board of this society. Italian capital has already found a firm footing in Albania, the foreign trade of which country pre- sented the following aspect in 1925: 175 per cent, or three quarters of the turnover fell to the share of Italy, 21 per cent to that of Greece. and 3 per cent to that of Yugoslavia. In 1926, the First Al- banian Bank was founded with a capital of 12% million gold frames. Of this capital, 50 per cent is Italian, 23 per cent Albanian, 15 per cent Swiss, 8 per cent Yugoslavian, and 4 per cent Belgian. The chairman and two of the managers are Italians. One half of the reserves is deposited with Roman banks. Furthermore, 18 months back, a group of Italian capitalists, headed by the well-known finan- cier Mario Alberti, concluded a loan agreement with the Albanian minister of finance for a sum of 50 million gold francs, to run for 40 years at a rate of 74% per cent, the annual service including amorti- zation amounting to about 8 millions. Last year a Society for the Economic Promotion of Albania, created mainly with Italian capital, was granted concessions for forest exploitation in the Skutari region, besides concessions for the construc- tion of railways and roads of strategic importance in a possible attack on Yugoslavia. There is only a single Albanian on the board of this society. By means of the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. and the Anglo-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell, Great Britain has succeeded in extending its influence to Albania. In connection with the exploitation of the naphtha sources there was once lively competition in Al- bania between British and Italian interests, but this ended with the acquisition of extensive naphtha con- eessions by Italy, too. The interests of Italy and Yugoslavia are diame- trically opposed in Albania. In June, 1924, there was a revolution in that country which destroyed the power of Achmed Bey Zogu, the adherent of the Serbs, representing the interests of the feudal land- owners (Beys). This revolution, indeed, was di- rected against the power of the Beys and against the remnants of medieval feudalism and favored the confiscation of large landed property and the dis- tribution of the land among the peasants. At the head of the new government was Fan Noli, who was backed by Italy. The old government of EDITOR’S NOTES (Continued from page 1) mit Briand considerable freedom of action with Ger- many, since the Franco-German dispute has all of a sudden become “of little consequence,” in order to secure for England greater freedom of action against China and against the Soviet Union. In fact, this is how the press dispatch concludes (Con- stantine Brown in the Chicago Daily News): The British have already won the French to their side regarding China and expect that M. Briand will confirm their present policy. In the same way they expect him to promise full sup- port in the coming dispute with the Soviet Re- public, which last week’s raid on the Soviet house in London made inevitable. There is the whole story of the present “friendly” visit of the imperialist rulers of France to the im- perialist rulers of England. It is to patch up com- paratively “minor” differences, such as the fate of the Balkans and the well being of Germany, in order to concentrate with combined forces against the major enemy of the present moment. This major enemy in the eyes of world imperialism are the workers and peasants of China and the workers and peasants of the Soviet Union. The danger of war is here. The conspirators against the peace of the world are carrying on their damnable intrigues without let-up or interruption. Hence, the efforts of the working class and all enemies of imperialism must be doubled and tripled to prevent this danger from becoming a reality. poLLowine the report of Henry L. Stimson, per- sonal representative of President Coolidge in Nic- aragua, that “the way is now open for the develop- ment of Nicaragua along the lines of peace, order By B. BOSHKOVITCH aaa SX Achmed Bey Zogu fled to Yugoslavia, whence it managed with the full support of Belgrade to de- pose Fan Noli and to restore the old regime of the landowners. This connivance has been admitted by the Yugoslavian foreign minister, Dr. M. Nintchitch. In the Paris paper “Le Matin” of February i6th, 1927, Dr. Nintchitch openly declared that at the close of 1924 his government financed and organized the overthrow of Fan Noli. Finally, however, Italy succeeded in winning over the Yugoslav. puppet Achmed Bey Zogu, by which-means the Italian fas- cists paralysed the anti-Italian policy of the Alban- ian government. For a time it seemed as though the Yugoslavian government of Pashitch and Nintchitch would suc- ceed in coming to an understan with the Ital- ians under the influence of British diplomacy. Ac- cording to the agreement of 1924, Italy and Yugo- slavia had each its separate sphere of influence in Albania and in other disputed regions of the Adri- atic. Yugoslavia renounced its claims on Fiume in favor of Italy and was in its turn alloted the entire coastal stretch of Dalmatia. The Serbian govern- ment agreed to this settlement so as to have a free hand in regard to some disputed points in Macedonia and on the Egean Sea in relation to Bulgaria and Greece, in which connection it was desirable that all available Yugoslavian forces be coricentrated on the Eastern borders. In Yugoslavia’s foreign pcli- tics, the “Egans” got the better of the “Adriatics.” Very soon, however, it became apparent that Italy had no intention of sharing its sphere of influence in Albania with Yugoslavia. The fascist government and ultimate self-government,” there comes the news of a bloddy encounter between American ma- rines and some sections of the liberalstroops. The casualties reported thus far are fourteen liberal soldiers and two American marines dead, and several wounded. This is Mr. Stimson’s conception of peace, order and ultimate self-government. This is the peaceful way in which President Coolidge is assisting the big American bankers in establishing their rule in Nica- ragua. This is supposed to be not brutal imperial- ism but mere protection of- American lives arid prop- erty. When incidents of this kind occur, the one to blame is not the American government but the broken up bands of liberal troops who refuse to be disarmed and crushed by American marines, When Nicaraguans, or Mexicans, or Porto Ricans or Fil- ipinos refuse to be invaded by American military, forces and governed by a dictatorship of America, { generals or admirals, the responsibility for what-' ever happens is always placed upon the people who refuse to submit to the merciful rule of American + imperialism: And this is called democratic and enlightened justice. Very little is now being said in our capitalist press of what has actually happened to Nicaragua as a result of the recent American intervention. If the truth were told, everybody would know that Nic- aragua is no longer an independent and free coun- try, that the actual rulers of the land are American bankers who are enforcing their domination with the help of the navy and the marines. Nicaragua has become a colony of American imperialism the same as India is a colony of British imperialism. And the manner of treatment that American imper- im deals out to its colonies is not a bit better than the treatment given to @eir colonies by British and French imperialism. of Italy made use of the rebellion of certain clans of the Roman-Cztholic persuasion in the North of Albania in November 1926 for the purpose of fore- ing Achméd Bey Zogu to sign the agreement of Tirana between Italy and Albania. By means of this treaty Italy gained full control over the foreign policy of Albania. This agreement between Italy and Albania is backed hy Great Britain. Both in the “New York Tribune” and in the “Matin” it was reported that on the occasion of.a meeting at Leghorn between Cham- berlain and Mussolini, the former promised that Great Britain would not prevent Italy from laying its hands on Albania. British diplomacy works be- hind the scenes. It is influencing Roumania, Bul- garia, and Greece in an anti-French sense. Under the lead of British diplomacy, fascisti Italy is driv- ing a wedge into the Little Entente, France’s main prop in the Balkans, by ratifying the so-called Bes- sarabian protocol. The yet unofficial union between Italy and Roumania will mean the secession of the latter state from the Little Entente and the com- plete isolation of Yugoslavia. The agreement between Italy and Albania caused an acute government crisis in Yugoslavia. Indirectly this treaty was directed against France and alse against Turkey, which particularly suited Great Bri- tain, since the latter has long endeavored to alien- ate Yugdslavia from its allegiance to France and to draw it into the British net. As the protector of Yugoslavia, France cannot contemplate with equan- imity this advance of Italian fascism, which already threatens the French interests in Syria and North Africa. Nor can Turkey remain inactive in view of the feverish zeal of the Italian fascists, which alse menaces Asia Minor. f Tsolated Yugoslavia now begins to think of an approach to the Soviet Union. True, the parliamen: tary, speech of the Yugoslavian Foreign Minister, Dr. Peritch still bears the marks of indecision and half-heartedness as regards Soviet Russia, though under the pressure of publie opinion he had fifially to own that “the Yugoslavian people would gladly weleome the renewal of relations with the Soviet Union.” ' The conflict between Italy and Yugoslavia in re- gard to Albania is therefore of more than local in- terest; it has acquired great international signific- ance, It augments the tension not only in the Bal- kans, where an explosion may ensue on the slightest provocation, but also in other parts of the world. True, the imperialist powers are at present en- deavoring to prevent any premature outbreak of hostilities in the Balkans, since they are at present still occupied with China. It is a moot point, how- ever, whether they will be able to quench the spark “once kindled in the nick of time. The working masses in Yugoslavia already scent the smell of gun-powder on the Albania frontier and are therefore redoubling their exertions against the cutbreak of a new war. In this connection they reckon on the indispensable help of the international proletariat. Thus supported, the working masses of the Balkan countries will be able to take up.a successful fight against war, against imperialism, and in favor of the Balkan Federation of Peasants’ and Workers’ Republics. WHY, LAPY! WHERE IS YOUR MODESTY® Indeed, we may be proud of our ruling class. It is doing it as well as the older imperialist powers and, maybe better. Let us therefore continue to work towards the end that when the American work- ing class begins to square accounts with its master it will do it as well, if not better, than the most advanced sections of the world proletariat of today.