DICTATORS CONFER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1938, Page 8

DICTATORS CONFER

HITLER & MUSSOLINI DISCUSS TRIESTE

ATTITUDE OF THE FOREIGN PRESS. SEMI-OFFICIAL COMPLAINT. (Recd This Day, 12.25 p.m.) ROME, May 6. Signor Mussolini and Herr Hitler exchanged views, which are reported to concern the future of Trieste. Italy is concerned with Germany’s diversion of Austrian trade to Hamburg and a desire to develop her own services from Trieste, which is prejudicial to the Italian monopoly of the Adriatic. A semi-official statement from the German side criticises foreign Press reports of Herr Hitler’s visit and declares that they betray the unfriendly attitude to Italo-German solidarity which exists in some quarters abroad, despite assurances to the contrary. The statement threatens that this attitude certainly will be taken unfavourably into account in forthcoming diplomatic developments. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Rome correspondent says Herr Hitler escorted Queen Elene at a reception in his honour given by the Governor of Rome. Signor Mussolini was not present. Italian newspapers have been instructed not to mention a luncheon the Minister of Propaganda tendered to Dr Goebbels, who failed to turn up, it is reported, because Jews were amongst those invited. By a tragic coincidence, General Siciliani, who organised today’s gigantic military display, died at the very moment it opened. He contracted pneumonia while rehearsing in the rain. Immediately after the appearance of 52,000 balillas before Hitler, will come a decree making preliminary training compulsory for all males between 18 and 21.