Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1940. AXIS LEADERS MEET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 265, 8 October 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1940. AXIS LEADERS MEET.

The Axis leaders have again met at the Brenner Pass, and a typically vague statement says that Hitler and Mussolini studied all the problems of interest to the two countries. Two and a half hours were required for this study—a remarkably brief period if due consideration is given to the pressing difficulties which confront the two Dictators. The meeting, it is observed, was cordial. It could not be otherwise, for Hitler still wants Italian help badly against Britain, and Mussolini is so deep in the Fuehrer's toils and compromised in his relations with Germany that disaster would confront him were he fall out with the master mind of totalitarianism. The Rome radio, rather more modest than usual, says the leaders have not “fixed the date of victory, but the two nations will achieve this whenever and wherever the decision comes.” That is a very substantial climb down from the boastings which were early associated with their partnership in the war. When in March the two Dictators met in the Brenner Pass Mussolini’s eagerness to enter the . war was only restrained by Hitler until France had been disposed of. Again, in the middle of June, they met, this time to divide the spoils of victory from France’s capitulation. "Then a little later the date was fixed for the defeat of Britain and the victorious entry of Hitler into Londbn. In that of course Mussolini was to have no share —the African Empire was his particular sphere, , and the British Empire was informed that very soon Alexandria would be taken by the victorious Italian Army on its march to the Suez Canal.

But Hitler’s plans have not proceeded to schedule. Britain s great Air Force has shattered every German attempt to destroy England from the air, and all the invasion schemes have been destroyed by the brilliant airmen’s offensive against the Channel ports. Tn the Mediterranean theatre Mussolini’s legions have made some progress into Egypt as the British forces withdrew to better positions, but there jUey remain while the Italian Fleet maintains its determination to avoid an encounter with the British Fleet, scurrying to port once it hears that the latter is sweeping the Mediterranean Sea in its attempts to bring it to action. Ho doubt it is the Italian Navy’s caution, ( as well as the army’s, which keeps the latter in its new bases at Solium and Sidi Barrani. The Dictators’ next move has come with the Nazi troops’ entrance into Rumania, the full implications of which are not yet clear. One fact would seem to emerge clearly from the Ih’enner Pass talks—both Dictators are convinced that the war will not be the short affair they envisaged

from the very first. Whatever else was decided upon remains obscure. Italy may order a general advance in Egypt, or on the other hand there may be peace proposals, though the Rome radio denies any association of this nature with the meeting at the Brenner Dass. It will readily be recalled how prone Hitler was to offer peace once he had secured one or more of his objectives, notably Poland, and Mussolini loyally supported him. Whatever the outcome of this conference Britain and her Empire await it.calmly.