RUMOURS & THEORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1939, Page 5

RUMOURS & THEORIES

BRITISH MINISTERS’ VISIT TO ROME

| BARGAINING BY THE DUCE EXPECTED. REPORTED ITALIAN HOPES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 9. “The Times” says that Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax are going to Rome solely in an exploratory spirit. There will be no clumsy attempt, as has been mischievously suggested, to try and cajole Italy from the RomeBerlin axis nor to attempt to break down France’s resistance to Italy’s claims.

Nothing is further from the minds of the Cabinet Ministers, says the newspaper, than to urge France to give way even to concessions, which, without insults, might have been reasonable.

j On. the other hand, the Rome correspondent of the “News Chronicle” says that reliable quarters suggest that the visit will result in the creation of a Rome-Berlin-London triangle, replacing the axis, after which France, being isolated, will be compelled to accede to Italy's demands. Britain will be urged by Italy to adopt a passive role should pressure be brought to bear against France. The Rome correspondent of “The Times” says that the Italian newspapers throughout the week devoted columns to Mr Chamberlain’s visit, analysing every possible aspect, from which the hope consistently emerges that the visit will result in a clarification of British and Italian aims, enabling Britain, Italy, and Germany, to co-operate more closely in a readjustment of the balance of power. The Press is careful to point out that the claims against France will be fully maintained, and also that Italy was not intimidated by M. Daladier’s “provocative” tour of French Mediterranean possessions.

Italians are evidently counting more on Mr Chamberlain’s good offices than on Germany’s backing in order to secure satisfaction.

Signor Mussolini is probably preparing to bargain hard in an attempt to get. what he wants, believing that General Franco’s advance in Spain has considerably strengthened his hand. EVE OF DEPARTURE DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON. ONLY EXCHANGE OF VIEWS PROPOSED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, January 9. Arrangements are complete for the departure of Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax for Rome tomorrow morning. Most of the Cabinet Ministers have now returned to London, and during the day conversations are taking place between leading members of the Government on various current questions. No agenda has been fixed for the Rome talks, which will be confined to exchanges of views. They will continue the personal contacts between Mr Cnamberlain and Signor Mussolini established in September, and will be based on the Anglo-Italian Agreement.

PEACE & GOODWILL.

A FAREWELL MESSAGE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, January 9. On the eve of their departure for Rome, Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax received a message of good wishes from the Anglo-Italian Parliamentary Committee, in which hope is expressed for the success of the Romp deliberations in the promotion of permanent friendship and goodwill between Italy and Britain and in the advancement of world peace. The committee also sent a message to the Ministry of -Foreign Affairs in Rome, tendering to the head of the Italian Government and people sincere good wishes for permanent peace and goodwill between Italy and the British Commonwealth of Nations and expressing an ardent hope that Anglo-Italian co-operation and mutual understanding may, in the new year, form a basis for the establishment of lasting peace among the nations of the world.