CENTRAL EUROPE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1939, Page 5

CENTRAL EUROPE

ITALY’S EFFORTS AMBASSADORS’ CONFERENCE, $ (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright;. LONDON, Aug. 21. Interest in the swiftly-moving European drama has temporarily moved to Rome. That city is tense with excitement, and seething with speculation. ' ■" ‘ ’ R - Reuter reports that there is the possibility of Count Ciano (Italian Foreign Minister) calling a conference of the British, French, and Polish Ambassadors in a last effort to reach a settlement. British circles deny they have knowledge of such initiative, but it is understood that Ambassadors’ interviews with Count’ Ciano have been postponed until Friday, because 0, the impending arrival of the Hungarian Foreign Miister, Count Csaky, in Rome, where he will be resuming bis conversations with Count Ciano. It is expected that Count Csaky will return to Rome to-day from Budapest to see Count Ciano.

The Italian Ambassador at Berlin, Signor Attolico, has arrived at Rome from Munich to consult Count Ciano. It is denied, however, that Signor Attolico gave Herr Hitler a negative reply on a vital point of policy, as was yesterday alleged. GERMAN MILITARY EXERCISES BERLIN, Aug. 21. It is announced that the whole of Cologne and Ruhr districts are having thirty-six hours of air-raid precautions exercise, beginning at dusk today. There are large military manoeuvres in Germany. These are dislocat- j ing everyday life. Nearly a million ] German women are “grass widows,” j because their husbands have been called up. Many havq taken over their 1 husbands’ jobs, and carry on their businesses.

RUGBiY, Aug. 20. The Sunday newspapers reveal J common awareness that the so-called “war of nerves” in Europe is now entering upon its decisive and most dangerous phase, and that the risks that the final phase may prove to be the prelude to a major conflagration are so serious • that they must be : openly but steadfastly faced. i They arc almost equally unanimous ] in the view that the hope for peace J to-day resides in proclaiming for the J truth. They obviously' believe it to j be the unaltering resolution of the British and French people, to. take up arms if, upon whatever pretext, the Axis Powers again have 'recourse to methods of force or intimidation.

SOVIET AND GERMANY. MOSCOW, Aug. 21. The paper “Pravada” editorially comments on the new Russo-German trade agreement. It says: “This agreement has been born in an atmosphere of strained political relations. The agreement is destined to release that atmosphere, it may prove' a serious step toward a further improvement, not only in the economic, but also in the political relations between the Soviet Union and Germany. GOERING’S DOUBTS. BERLIN, Aug. 21. The “National Zeitung” of Essen, Marshal Goering’s mouthpiece, questions whether the Anglo-Polish pact will contain a clause under which Britain could regard any change in the political position at Danzig as automatically involving her in the fulfilment af the British obligations to Poland.” j The paper says: “The week iKow commencing will bring a decision in, regard to this and also to other im- j portant questions.” LONDON, Aug. 21. The Hungarian Foreign Minister, Count Csaky, has arrived, unexpectedly at Budapest, from Graz.' He is reporting immediately to President Telki and the Cabinet.

GERMANS MASSING. (Received this day at 9.45 a.m.). LONDON, August 22. The Associated Press of Great Britain’s correspondent in Zilina (Slovakia), reports that quarter of a million German troops, accompanied by ar tillery and aircraft, are now stationed on the Slovak frontier of Poland’s southern flank.