AXIS CALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 October 1939, Page 5

AXIS CALL

COUNT CIANO IN BERLIN AT HITLER'S INVITATION. ITALY'S CRITICAL POSITION. LONDON, September 30. The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, has gone to Berlin, states a message from Rome. The Rome correspondent of the “New York Times” says that Count Ciano's visit is at a critical moment in Italian history. He adds that Herr Hitler has finally called on his axis partner, but those thinking That Italy is under the domination of Germany are proved to be wrong. Italy supported Germany only in so far as it was of advantage to her. Italy maintained friendship with England and France and demonstrated repeatedly her determination to remain neutral unless attacked. There is no doubt Italy will support the Russian-German peace moves, but she will hesitate to join a ruthless war against England and France, although she might be influenced by Germany’s singularly powerful situation at present. On the other hand, she might argue that the circumstances have altered her commitments. Any weakening on the part o’f the Allies indicating capitulation. might result in Italy regarding it as her national duty to join Russia and Germany, but it is most likely that Count Ciano will be insistent on Italy’s neutrality. Count Ciano’s visit to Berlin, a radio report states, it at Herr Hitler’s invitation. Herr Hitler wishes to explain exactly what occurred between Herr von Ribbentrop and M. Stalin, it being declared in Berlin that this is in keeping with the axis policy of consultation on all important developments. The Italian Cabinet has imposed two more taxes, one on income and one on capital, to meet the demands for military expenditure consequent on the international situation.