TALKS WITH DUCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 37, 13 February 1941, Page 9

TALKS WITH DUCE

NO BIG DEVELOPMENT INDICATED

PEACE AIM UNLIKELY

LONDON, February 12

The visit of the Spanish Prime Minister, General Franco, to Italy has given rise to numerous and contradictory rumours. He is reported to have crossed the Italiah frontier last night to meet Signor Mussolini, accompanied by his Foreign Minister, Senor Suner. Axis sources are hinting, as they did at the time of Herr Hitler's conversations with General Franco, that this step heralds Spain's entry into the war, but this Axis rumour finds no support in other Quarters. V There is no inkling in today's .Madrid papers about what may be the subject of. the conversations between General Franco and Signor Mussolini, and there is nothing to indicate that any big development is expected. No doubt "General Franco will display the caution he has shown in the past when faced by, overtures from the ' Axis. Whatever it is that Signor Mussolini has to ask for, it seems fairly clear that the initiative for the meeting has I come from him.

General Franco will, no doubt, continue to assess Spain's requirements at present, before anything ,else, as peace, quietness, and food. There is nothing surprising in the report that while hens in France General Franco may pay a visit to Marsnal Petain. The Marshal and General Franco are old friends, and the Marshal was formerly French Ambassador in Spain. It is not generally supposed that Mussolini, himself in a serious plight, is likely to succeed where Herr Hitler, at the height of his triumph' failed. Another rumour about the talks which is vigorously denied by Axis sources is tfcat Signor Mussolini hopes to obtain an armistice -with Britain through the good offices of General Franco. This report, Mich has been widely circulated in the. United States, finds no acceptance in London. : The view i's held here that Signor Mussolini is too much under the control of Herr Hitler to be in a position to attempt to sue for peace on'his own. Marshal Petain is reported to have arrived this morning at. his villa i.i the French Riviera. Admiral Darlan is reported to be with him. Other reports suggest that he may meet General Franco when the Spanish leader returns from his talks with Signor j Mussolini. ZURICH, February 11. It is reliably stated that General Franco is expected to oppose any. proposals that Spain should enter the war, on the ground of her economic situation.