FRIENDLY TOKENS

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 229, 27 September 1937, Page 7

FRIENDLY TOKENS

HONOURS EXCHANGED.

"Days of World Importance

Have Begun."

FATALITIES MAS ARRIVAL. United Press Association.—Copyright. MUNICH, September 26. The official German version of Signor Mussolini's arrival in Germany states: "II Duce was greeted with an unparalleled ovation. Days of world political importance have begun." Signor Mussolini conferred on Herr Hitler the rank of corporal in the Fascist Militia, a rank hitherto confined to Signor Mussolini himself.

Herr Hitler presented Signor Mussolini with the insignia of the Urand Cross of the German Eagle, in gold and diamonds.

Ten Black Guards participating in the welcome to Signor Mussolini were killed and 17 were injured in accidents involving motor lorries used to transport them between the route of the procession and the barracks.

When en route to Munich Signor Mussolini was officially welcomed at Innsbruck on behalf of the head of the police, who was accompanied by the governor of the Tyrol and other high officers. Signor Mussolini's last visit to Innsbruck was in 1909, when he was arrested and expelled as a Socialist agitator.

BRITISH PESSIMISM.

NOT MUCH EXPECTED.

British omcial Wireless. RUGBY, September 26. Writers in the Press agree that not much is expected to emerge from the meeting between Signor Mussolini and Herr Hitler, except a clamant declaration of solidarity, although they express the hope that the talks may be turned to the advantage of general European collaboration.

"The Times" compares the lavish and massive spectacle contrived by the Germans in honour of the occasion with the famous Field of the Cloth of Gold. It adds, however: "Henry and Francis were not assisted by Ministries of Propaganda, uniformed populations, bullet proof trains and all else that may guide or stimulate the imagination of the modern Press."

After welcoming the hopeful turn to the conversations in Rome on the Nyon arrangement, and the Italian assurance regarding reinforcements to Spain, "The Times" remarks: "An assertion that the authoritarian Powers a"re kindly operating against Bolshevism for the protection of vulnerable democracies will be prominent in the ritual of the next few days and can be tolerantly put aside as necessary to the grand parade. It is more important, though, that the dictatorships confess themselves bent on the reshaping of Europe."