REPORT DENIED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1939, Page 5

REPORT DENIED

DICTATORS NOT MEETING IN ITALY ALREADY IN AGREEMENT ON SPAIN. FORMAL STATEMENT IN ROME. By Telegraph—Press ■ Association— Copyright ROME, February 19. The Government spokesman has formally denied reports that Herr Hitler. Signor Mussolini and General Franco are arranging to confer in a city in the north of Italy in order to establish a common front on the Spanish problem. He said that the harmony among the three totalitarians was such that a meeting was unnecessary. A message from Britain states that official quarters have no knowledge of the conference.

EARLY PEACE OFFER EXPECTED BY FRANCO. BY WAY OF BRITAIN. ROME, February 20. The report that Herr Hitler, Signor Mussolini and General Franco were tc meet in conference originated in Signor Mussolini’s paper "Popolo di Italia.” It is believed that the initiative came from General Franco. According to a Paris message Spanish Republican circles predict an early peace offer to General Franco via Bi itain. the sole condition being that there shall be no reprisals. Reuter’s Burgos correspondent says General Franco holds he is entitled tc dictate terms, including the surrender of artillery and aircraft as a primary guarantee of good faith. The British United Press Burgos correspondent says Nationalists describe the talks as purely informative. There is -a tendency to emphasize that no importance is attached to relations with France. The British United Press Paris correspondent says diplomatic circles suggest that General Franco assured Sir Robert Hodgson that Britain’s position in Gibraltar will be respected.