STUDY OF PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 84, 5 October 1940, Page 11

STUDY OF PROBLEMS

SPECULATION AS TO PURPOSE

BERLIN RETICENT

SECRET THAT LEAKED OUT

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received October 5, 9 a.m.)

LONDON, October 4,

It is officially announced in Berlin that Hitler met the Duce at the Brenner Pass at noon. The talks started in the Duce's train.

The talks ended after two hours and 40 minutes. A communique stated: "Within the framework of a routine exchange of views the Duce and the Fuhrer met for a cordial meeting, conducted in the spirit of the Axis. The leaders, in the presence of Count Ciano and Herr yon Ribbentrop, studied all problems of interest to the two countries. General yon Keitel was present during the last part of the conversation. The talks continued during a luncheon, at which the Foreign Ministers were also present."

A message from Rome says that the trains in which Mussolini and Hitler conferred were heavily armoured, and fighter planes patrolled overhead.

The "Popolo di Roma" says that Mussolini and Hitler probably discussed a joint plan for a long war, and adds that no compromise is possible, as victory is the only aim -of the Axis Powers. Britain is worried because time is working against Britain and noc for Britain. Consequently, Italy and Germany do not fear a long war.

An American Associated Press version says that the "Popolo di Roma" talked of the failure of the German plans to invade Britain, in consequence of which Italy and Germany had lost the possibility of a short war. Berlin authorities are most reticent regarding the meeting and expressed indignation that the meeting was revealed prematurely. It is said that the movements of the Fuhrer were a military secret and that the Nazis have threatened to invoke the espionage laws "which apply to foreign journalists in the same way as to others." The Berlin correspondent of the "Svenska Dagbladet' J says that the Brenner Pass meeting is reported to have been called to discuss the advisability of supporting a peace move, with the Pope as intermediary. Foreign circles in Rome have been informed that Marshal Graziani returned to Rome to consult Mussolini regarding the Axis plans. (Daventry Broadcast.) LONDON, October 4. I The meeting between Hitler and i Mussolini was a rather hit-and-run affair, although Berlin makes references to "lengthy deliberations." The two armoured trains with their precious personages crawled up the Alps, met, and stopped. The meeting lasted a little over two hours, one of which was taken up with the consuming of lunch. After that ceremony, at which Herr yon Ribbentrop was present, the whole paraphernalia of armoured trains descended the Alps again. One reason for the brevity of the meeting was perhaps a fear that there might be unwelcome intruders. At any rate, both countries supplied patrols of fighter aircraft to fly over the Brenner Pass during the meeting. The shortness of the meeting and the terms of the communique have led to some speculation whether "the \ spirit of the Axis" is that Hitler gives Mussolini orders about the conduct of a new phase of the war. Behind the phrase "a routine exchange of views" there lies the whole miscarriage of the two dictators' plans. Both Hitler, and Mussolini were banking on a quick end to the battle of Britain. The object of the meeting today must have been to devise ways of meeting the new situation of a protracted war and the ever-increasing resistancefrom Britain and the Empire. The first nourish devised to this end was the pact with Japan, and it is compared in one quarter with the winter health campaign by which the Nazis \ raise funds each winter. As a diplomatic winter health fund the pact be- j tween the Axis and Japan is likely to be quite inadequate to see , the Axis Powers through the winter. Hitler and Mussolini no doubt are looking for a way to augment it.

A correspondent points out that the prospect of a direct military offensive depends first on how far Hitler has already learned that Britain cannot be subdued by a blitzkrieg, and second* how far he and Mussolini can agree about the possibility of a successful attack on Egypt. It may be well supposed that each would be urging the other to "get on with it," and Hitler may be promising all kinds of help in- the Mediterranean campaign.

The only comment that official German sources make is that there are far-reaching consequences whenever the dictators meet. It was presumably fear of immediate consequences, remarked a London . commentator, which led the two countries to supply patrols of fighter aircraft to fly over the Brenner Pass throughout the meeting.

The remarkable admission of the "Fopolo di Roma" that the Axis plans have clearly miscarried has been noted with interest abroad. It is suggested that Hitler has been toying with the idea of trying his luck in Africa. Marshal Graziani, whose columns have taken root in the Western Desert, has been cooling his heels in Rome for the past few days, so presumably he is awaiting the outcome of today's meeting with more' interest than the rest of the world. It is pointed out that British naval domination in the Mediterranean is one of Mussolini's problems. The Rome radio says: "Italy will lose no opportunity to destroy this instrument of piracy, the British Fleet. This is one of the reasons why Italy has entered the war."