THE ROME TALKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24410, 23 September 1940, Page 7

THE ROME TALKS

AXIS INTERESTS IN AFRICA PRESSURE ON SPAIN REWARD FOR CO-OPERATION (United Press Association) . ':•,. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ROME, Sept. 21. ' Herr von Ribbentrop, after telephoning Herr Hitler and having a further talk with Signor Mussolini and Count Ciano, announced that he had concluded his Italian visit and was returning to Berlin to-morrow, after which he would again confer with Senor Suner regarding Spain's co-operation with the Axis. To-day's Rome talks are the subject of Varying interpretations, but Italian and German-informed circles agreed, that the conferences were essential because a "decisive stage of the war" was reached with the bombardment of London and the invasion of Egypt. Apparently a clarification of the Axis interests in Africa was one of the most important aspects of the talks, including the price payable for Spain's immediate entry into the war. The Germans declared the elimination of Britaih from Africa would follow the liberation of Egypt, which would remain independent if it did not fight against the Axis. Senor, Suner has apparently been told bluntly the extent of Spain's territorial reward —Gibraltar and Morocco—will be governed by the degree and urgency of Spanish cooperation.