PEACE MISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1940, Page 5

PEACE MISSION

WELLES’ EFFORTS

MUSSOLINI SOUNDED,

(United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright).

NEW YORK, March 17

Mr Camille C’ianfarra, the “Now York Times’ ” Rome correspondent, reports: All signs point to a peace effort by the belligerents through the -mediation cf the United. .States and ;|ltaly. ’ Only American Vliplomatic ; circles were not surprised at the news that Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini were meeting. Apparently, Count Ciano informed Mr Sumner Welles at luncheon yesterday. It is felt that Mr Welles, after his tour of fife-capi-tals must have formulated a concrete

plan for presentation to the Duce. Signor Mussolini is a realist. He was profoundly irritated by the failure of the August peace effort. In his conversations with Herr Hitler, he will ask for definite pledges before undertaking a neiv initiative. Some, however, believe the meeting is connected with the German plan to create a bloc comprising Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan to prevent the war spreading to new fronts in the hopo that the Allies will accept a negotiated peace, if a stalemate, in the West, is certain.

ROOSEVELT’S REPUTED IDEAS.

WASHINGTON, March 18

Paris dispatches raise the hypothesis that Mr Sumner Welles may be inciting Herr Hitler, through Signor Mussolini, to |out', forward peace terms, Mr Welles’ calculation being that once they are published, they could not fail to produce an anti-cli-max.

United States Administration officials made only one comment on the Brenner conference, between Signor Mussolini and Herr Hitler. This conference was a reiteration that Mr Sumner Welles’ visit to Europe has had no political significance, and that lie merely has been securing information.

While there, is no inclination to believe that- Mr Welles is submitting a peace plan, the American press and public arc puzzled and are now asking: “Does this mean that he has been empowered to receive peace proposals and to submit them to White House ?”

It is felt that the President’s broadcast on the basis of peace on Saturday indicates that Mr Roosevelt ’ has not changed his views on the basis of peace, and that he. England and France are determined to fight as long as may be necessary to crush totalitarianism, and also that lie believes that they will win eventually. It is felt that he would have spoken differently if Mr Welles’ dispatches had revealed a different situation.

AMERICA’S VOICE IN PEACE

NEW YORK, March 18

The “New York Times” in an editorial, draws attention to what it terms as a paradox in American opinion. v It says: The United States doe 1 not want to be drawn into Europe. Neither does it want to he left out. Americans must make up their mind as to whether they 7 would be willing to associate with other larger nation' - in offering guarantees, if they wiTf seek a voice in the future peace settlement.

INTERVIEW WITH POPE. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) ROME, March 18. His Holiness the Pope gave an audience lasting fiftv minutes to Mr Welles and Mr Myron Taylor. They arrived at the Vatican in a car, not. flying ether the United States or Papal flag.

MR WELLES’ MISSION. (Received this day at 9.‘Jo’ a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18. M r Hull iold the Press conference that Mr Welles has not participated in negotiations among foreign powers. He had adhered strictly to fact-finding. COMMENT ON SPEECH.

(Received this day at 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, March 19.

Commenting on President Roosevelt’s speech, the “Yorkshire Post says: “It puts an end to all tin rumours that the immediate o-utconn of Mr Sumner Welles’ European tom would he '.a German peace hacked by the United States. It. i? crystal clear that President Roosevelt has'.no indention of lending Ins authority to any such dubious intrigues.”

The '“News-Chronicle” stays: “At things stand, the possibility of peace with the present rulers of Germany seems remote. We 'mist, therefore, prepare for the worst with all the vigour and nerve at onr command If the expected peace initiative should fail, we must he ready for a total war.”