VOICE OF ITALY

Evening Star, Issue 23350, 21 August 1939, Page 9

VOICE OF ITALY

MUSSOLINI OPPOSED TO WAR SUPPORT FOR POPE’S PEACE MOVE ANTI-SWISS CAMPAIGN IN SOUTHERN GERMANY Press Association—By Telcsrapli—Copyright LONDON, August 20. Intense interest resulted from a Reuter report from Berlin that the Italian Ambassador, Senor Attolico, visited Herr Hitler at Berchtesgaden on August 19 and delivered “ an unfavourable reply ” from Signor Mussolini to a vital question raised by Herr Hitler during his talks with Count Ciano. There is no indication concerning what the question related to, but it is reliably stated that Signor Mussolini is strongly opposed to war, and is supporting the Pope’s moves behind the scenes to induce a peaceful settlement, especially of Danzig. The Italian Press campaign has significantly been toned down, and it is now adjuring “ our old friends the Poles ” to negotiate with Germany without delay. A Basle message states that there is an anti-Swiss whisnering campaign in Southern Germany. A heavy concentration of troops near Basle resulted in the strengthening of Swiss garrisons on the Italian and German frontiers. All roads and bridges are mined and guarded incessantly. , The Italian border garrisons are being strengthened. TrOops are moving up to the French frontier from Trieste, from Venice, and from Milan. German troops are passing across the Brenner Pass to Italy repeatedly, arousing the hostility of the Italian Tyrolese. AMBASSADOR VISITS VON RIBBENTROP • LONDON, August 20. (Received August 21, at 1 p.m.) The Berlin correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says the Italian Ambassador, Signor Attolico, visited Herr von (Ribbentrop at Scblossfuschl, near Salzburg.