France and Italy

FOR six months, now, there have been signs of growing tension in Franco-Italian relations, with special evidences of irritation on the part of Italy. Before entering upon a discussion of the points at issue, I might make one or two remarks upon the general situation from the French point of view.

Negotiations between Paris and Rome have been in progress for some eleven years. They have as yet been brought to no satisfactory conclusion, though neither country has felt any lack of interest or encouragement on the part of other Powers. It is abundantly realized, indeed, that the differences between