Duce, Suspecting Hitler Wants Agreement with Britain

Northern Advocate, 29 March 1938, Page 7

Duce, Suspecting Hitler Wants Agreement with Britain

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 28. AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS UNDERSTANDS THAT SIGNOR MUSSOLINI IS PREPARED TO GO FURTHER IN NE*GOTIATIONS WITH BRITAIN THAN AT FIRST SEEMED LIKELY, AND THERE IS EVERY POSSIBILITY OF ACCORD BEING MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN A MERE CLEARING OF SUSPICIONS. A formula has been prepared involving undertakings in Spain, Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Britain will be required to notify her defences in Palestine the Red Sea Islands, and- recognise the Abyssinian conquest, and II Duce will be required to withdraw troops from Spain and evacuate the Balearies. Apparently Herr Hitler’s Austrian coup and the arrival of Germans at Brenner Pass have increased Signor Mussolini’s desire for a comprehensive agreement with Britain before Herr Hitler’s visit to Home.

Hitler Suspected II Duce believes an agreement will enable Italy to exert wider influence throughout Europe, especially in Yugoslavia and Hungary. Evidently (the Italians '.suspect that Herr Hitler primarily evolved the Rome-Eerlin axis to ensure that Italy would not interfere in Austria, and now they fear Herr Hitler will pay little heed to the axis. II Duce, therefore, is anxious ■to withdraw troops from Spain and transfer them to the Brenner. Pass. In connection with the negotiations in Rome between Britain and Italy, Count Ciano, Foreign Minister, conferred for an hour yesterday with the Earl of Perth, British Ambassador. There is much speculation regarding the reason for a conference on a Sunday. Negotiations Well Advanced. The Home correspondent of “The Times” says the conference followed the receipt bj'- Lord Perth of fresh instructions from London. The negotiations are fairly advanced, necessitating the careful drafting by experts of foi'inulae which the principals discussed. It is understood, says the Rome correspondents of the “Daily Telegraph” and “Morning Post” that the general terms of the agreement include:— The exchange of information regarding the strength and disposition of all forces in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, which has already begun. Neither Britain nor Italy to increase fortifications in the Mediterranean or Red Sea, although both may retain the existing fortifications. Britain refused the Italian request for naval parity in the Mediterranean