MR WELLES IN ROME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1940, Page 8

MR WELLES IN ROME

FINAL DAVS OF MISSION TALKS WITH AMBASSADORS. DISBELIEF IN PEACE MOVE RUMOURS. By Telegraph -Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. March 16. President Roosevelt's envoy. Mr Sumner Welles, arrived in Romo yesterday on the second visit of his European tour. A message from Rome today says that King Victor Emanuel received Mr Welles and had a conversation lasting 45 minutes, after which Mr Welles and the United States Ambassador. Mr Phillips, wont to the Foreign Office to see the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano.

The German Ambassador. Herr von Mackensen. arrived 10 minutes later. He remained only 10 minutes and left by a side door. Observers surmised that ho was the bearer of an urgent message for Count Ciano. Mr Welles also saw Signor Mussolini for the second time tonight, and he will meet the Pope on Monday. He may see the British. French and German Ambassadors before his departure for America on Tuesday. An official Italian communique describes the talks with Mr Welles as "long and cordial." After leaving London. Mr Wailea telegraphed the Foreign Minister. Lord Halifax, conveying his appreciation to their Majesties for the reception and also to the Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain, and Lord Halifax, thanking them for their courtesies and the opportunity of conferring with members of the Government.

Mr Chamberlain replied: "It. has given great satisfaction to my colleagues and myself to have had the opportunity for the conversations." Lord Halifax replied similarly. . News reports suggest ■ that Mr Welles's second visit to Romo has been the occasion for a fresh outburst ot speculation. The Press of several neutral capitals is once again canvassing the possibility of peace proposals, either pul forward in good faith from some high source or inspired from Nazi sources. These rumours are not given much prominence in British newspapers. which appear to regard them as having very little foundation. For London Mr Welles's purpose has always seemed to be exactly what Mr Roosevelt and Mr Welles himself said it was—to study the European situation at first hand and provide the President with a report. In Britain Mr Welles had an opportunity of discussion with representatives of every shade of opinion, including Mr James Maxton (International Labour Parly M.P.). who is one of the very small minority opposed io the policy of prosecuting the war to a successful conclusion, but in German Mr Welles j was not so fortunate. None of the I leaders of German minority opinion who still survive in the Nazi conceit-1 tration camps were released to meet him, so that he could give Mr Roosevelt. a comprehensive account of Germany's mind in the seventh month of the war into which Herr Hitler has led his country. The resulting hiatus in Mr Welles’s report, however, is not likely to be forgotten either by Mr Roosevelt or by Mr Welles. Mr Welles’s in Rome is not, in the view of shrewd British observers, a reason for anticipating peace proposals, but rather the contrary. Mr Welles is to sail for America on, Tuesday.