SPAIN & ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1939, Page 5

SPAIN & ITALY

TALK OF MILITARY TREATY SENOR SUNER’S VISIT TO ROME. FRANCO AND THE AXIS POWERS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, June 11. The Spanish Minister of the Interior, Senor Serrano Suner, visited Signor Mussolini yesterday, it is learned from Rome. It is understood he discussed the possibility of a military treaty between Italy and Spain. Herr Helmuth Wolthat, chief of the Foreign Office Commercial Department, has gone to Spain to discuss Spanish and German economic relations and the question of closer trading, states a message from Berlin. A message from Burgos states thatGeneral Franco has telegraphed Herr Hitler, Signor Mussolini, and Dr Salazar (Prime Minister of Portugal), expressing the friendship of the Falangists (Spanish Fascists) and their solidarity with Italy. Germany, and Portugal. y General Franco will review all the Spanish forces at Bilbao on June 19.

A recent exchange of statements between Dr Salazar and Mr Chamberlain. obviously made as a result of reports that the Rome-Berlin axis was applying pressure on Portugal through Spain to gain her support emphasised the Anglo-Portuguese friendship and their mutual regard for the ancient alliance between the -two countries.