Strategic Loan?

Since the formation of the Little Entente (YugoSlavia, CzechoSlovakia and Rumania) under French auspices, Italy has been suspicous of the new order in Central Europe. Efforts have been made by the Little Ententists to bring Greece, Poland and Italy into the charmed circle, but Italian suspicion of the Yugo-Slavs and Italian nervousness at the tendencies of French foreign policy has held Mussoliniland aloof.

Although it is denied that there is any political flavor to the transaction, last week, Mussolini and the Polish Minister to Italy, M. Zalewsi, assisted by Signor Toplitz, manager of the powerful Banco Commerciale Italiana, agreed to a loan whereby Italy lends 400,000,000 lire ($20,000,000 at normal exchange) to Poland. The ceremony had an official character, is considered in some circles to be an "Italian answer" to the recent French loan to Czecho-Slovakia.