Axis Leaders Confer on Their Next Move

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 237, 7 October 1940, Page 8

Axis Leaders Confer on Their Next Move

Saturday's News

MEETING IN ARMIURED TRAIN Swedish Report Suggests Possible Peace More United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, October 4. Hitler met Mussolini at the Brenner Pass at noon to-day. Discussions were begun in Mussolini’s train, and lasted 2 hours 40 minutes. A communique issued alter the talks stated: “Within the framework of a routine exchange of views, the Duce and the Fuhrer met for a cordial meeting conducted in the spirit of the Axis. The leaders, in the presence of their Foreign Ministers, Count Ciano and Herr von Ribbentrop, studied all problems of interest to the two countries. General Keitel, Head of the Supreme Command of the German Armed Forces, was present during the last part of the conversation. The talks were continued during luncheon, at which the Foreign Ministers also were present.” The Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet says that the meeting is reported, to have been called to discuss the advisability of supporting a peace move with the Pope as intermediary. Foreign circles in Rome have been informed that Marshal Graziani, Italian commander in North Africa, has returned to Rome to consult Mussolini reeardinc the Axis Dlans. The Rome radio stated that Hitler and Mussolini discussed their military and political programme lor the war, which had reached its decisive stage. The world would soon see the outcome, but definitely there had been no plotting against any nation not involved. The meeting, ’’ Mid the radio, u was an historic event of vast importance. The leaders have not fixed a date for their victory. The two nations will achieve this whenever and wherever the decision comes.'* A message from Rome says that tha trains in which Mussolini and Hitler conferred were heavily armoured. Fighter planes patrolled overhead. The Rome newspaper Popolo di Roma •ays: "Mussolini and Hitler probably discussed a joint plan for a long war.” It adds: “No compromise is possible, as victory is the only aim of the Axis. Britain is worried because time is working against Britain and not for Britain. Consequently, Italy and Germans do not fear a long war.” An Associated Press version says that the Fopolo di Roma talked of the failure of the German plans to invade Britain, in consequence of which Italy and Germany had lost the possibility of a short war. The Berlin authorities are most reticent regarding the meeting, and expressed mdignatiou that the meeting was revealed prematurely. They said that the Fuhrer o movements were a military secret, and threatened to invoke tho espionage laws, ‘which apply to foreign journalists in the same way as to others.**