VISIT TO ROME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1939, Page 5

VISIT TO ROME

PROGRAMME FOR BRITISH MINISTERS PLENTY OF TIME FOR TALKS WITH MUSSOLINI. THE POSITION IN SPAIN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. ROME, January 2. The official programme for the visit to Rome by the British Prime Minister. Mr Chamberlain and the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, shows that they will arrive by special train on the afternoon of January 11 and stay at the Villa Madama, which is frequently used for the entertainment of distinguished guests.

They will visit Signor Mussolini at the Palazzo Venezia and will be the Duce’s guest at a banquet in the evening.

On January 12 they will place wreaths on the tombs of King Humbert and Queen Margherita. After lunching with the King, they will visit a Young Fascist’s training display. On January 13 they will have an audience with the Pope and attend a reception by the Governor of Rome, and in the evening they will give a banquet at the British Embassy.' They will leave for London, on January 15.

“The Times” points out that the programme will enable ample time for meetings with Signor Mussolini, which it is presumed will be arranged as the discussions develop.

The certainty that the Spanish problem will figure largely in the conversations is specially interesting in viwe of the tenacity of the republican defence. Signor Mussolini is undoubtedly anxious in view of the continuous drain on Italian resources.

Italy’s reinforcements have certainly been negligeble recently and supplies of materials have been reduced in the interests of economy and foreign policy, but in view of the fact that it is not likely that Britain will grant General Franco belligerent rights, Signor Mussolini must soon decide whether to cut his losses in the struggle in which the result is doubtful and the Italians uninterested.