NEUTRAL ITALY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20057, 2 October 1939, Page 7

NEUTRAL ITALY

CIANO’S MISSION VISIT TO BERLIN POSSIBLE PEACE CALL MUSSOLINI MEDIATION NAZI RULE DENIED ALLIED FRIENDSHIP (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.; CRecd. Oct. 2, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1. Messages from Italy state that the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, left Rome yesterday for Berlin, where he arrived this afternoon. Herr Hitler is expected to attempt to induce Italy to adopt the role of peacemaker.

The Rome correspondent of the New York Times says that Count Oiano is going to Berlin at a critical moment in Italian history. Herr Hitler has finally called on his Berlin-Rome Axis partner. “Those thinking that Italy is under the domination of Germany have proved wrong,” states the correspondent. “Italy has supported Germany only insofar as it has been of advantage to her.

“Italy, has maintained her friendship with England and France, and has demonstrated repeatedly her determination to remain neutral unless she is attacked. No doubt Italy will support the Russian-German peace moves, tout she will hesitate to join in a ruthless war against England and France, although she might be influenced toy Germany’s singularly powerful situation at present. On the other hand she might argue that the circumstances have altered her commitments. Any weakening on the part of the Allies indicating capitulation if Italy threw her weight into the scales might result in Italy regarding It as a national duty to join Russia and Germany, tout it is most likely that Count Ciano will toe insistent on Italy’s neutrality.” Choice of War or Peace A dispatch sent on Friday to the New York Times from Mr. Otto D. Tolischus in Berlin stated that Signor Mussolini is expected to take action through diplomatic channels to put the choice of “war or peace” formally before Britain and France. “How far the German expectations suggesting the existence of a secret Russian-German military alliance are based on fact is difficult to determine,” continues the correspondent. “Army circles, (irrespective of the present situation, hold that an ultimate Russian-German clash is inevitable. Government circles emphasise that Russia will not permit the defeat of Germany, thus endangering the Russian share of Poland.

'Tf the argument is sound, it provides a clue to the mystery of the Russian policy, which has undoubtedly been fed on hatred of England. “Plutocratic Capitalists”

“There is also reason to believe that while M. Stalin welcomes the German sword against ‘the plutocratic capitalists,’ he is by no means anxious to join in the war, but prefers Italy’s policy of friendly neutrality, while gathering his own harvest at least until the winner is apparent. “Even the Germans do not believe that IM. iStalin is interested in a crushing defeat of the democracies, leaving him to face a mighty Nazi Germany alone. An early peace leaving the west intact with the 'balance against Germany is as much to Russia’s interest as Germany’s, If the war continues, iM. Stalin will still hope to gain toy possible mutual exhaustion. Having failed to 'beat Germany in open conflict, the Russian bear, turned red, may attempt to gain victory by embracing it.’’ Mr. Tolischus adds: “It is assumed that Herr Hitler, Herr von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano will discuss possibilities and methods of transferring the peace offensive to the diplomatic field, establishing contact between the warring Powers through the technically neutral Signor Mussolini. Climax of Peace Offensive “The climax of the peace offensive is likely to be reached when Herr Hitler speaks in the Reichstag. It is assumed that he will repeat and amplify his peace offers into a possibly larger and more precise peace programme. “It is notable that while official and semi-official circles discuss the possibility of a joint Russian-German military offensive, in which Russian submarines and aeroplanes would participate, press comments likely to be read in Moscow merely emphasise that German-'Russian collaboration embraces the ‘whole political and economic field,’ the main emphasis being that the proposed' expansion oi Russian-German trade offers a prospect of beating the blockade. Even if the Russian supplies permit Germany to withstand the blockade, she must still view the loss of her overseas trade, completely reorganise hei economy, and rigidly curtail consumption through rationing, this not only drastically lowering the living standards, tout also rapidly bankrupting the wholesale and retail trade, which admittedly might soon have to toe replaced toy the Russian style of State distribution system. Therefore, irrespective of Russian militaiy aid, ihe German threats of an offensive toffort to find a way must still be taken seriously.”

WEST END CINEMAS (Reed. Oct. 2, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30. West End cinemas are permitted to open till 10 p.m.