ITALIANS PLEASED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23592, 28 February 1940, Page 12

ITALIANS PLEASED

ME. WELLES' MISSION MEETS TWO LEADERS PRELIMINARY TALKS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received Fo'bruary. 27, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. Q7 The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, to-day received Mr. Sumner Welles, United States Assistant-Secretary of State, who is touring Europe, and the TJnited States Ambassador, Mr. William Phillips. The interview lasted 75 minutes, says a message from Rome. A 15-minute chat followed the formal talk.

Mr. Welles described the interview as very gratifying and helpful.

Count Ciano, immediately after the talk, hurried to the Palazzo Vcnezia to acquaint Signer Mussolini with the gist of the preliminary survey of problems and remained during Mr. Wollcs' visit to II Duce, to whom the United States envoy handed a personal message from President Roosovelt. Although the talks were secret, foreign observers are of opinion that the sudden warmth of Italian reaction can be explained by the possibility that Mr. Welles made some specific suggestion which struck a responsive chord in Italian policy. The Rome wireless to-day stated that Mr. Welles' visit to Count Ciano and Signor Mussolini changed tho Italian public's attitude to the mission rather abruptly from comparative indifference to lively interest. The Paris press welcomes the tour being mado through Europe by Mr. Welles, and hopes he will bo able to see for himself how Germany treats small States.

Le Petit Parisien says it wonders whether Mr. Welles will bo allowed to visit Warsaw, Prague and Vienna. Mr. Welles has decided to leave Romo this evening for Berlin.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE SPECULATION IN AMERICA NEW YORK, Feb. 26 Interest 111 President Roosevelt's message which Mr. Welles delivered to Signor Mussolini, centres moro on whether a similar message will be delivered to Hitlc# than on the probable contents of the one to Signor Mussolini, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. It is pointed out that the message conformed with international diplomatic custom. Whether it contained more than personal greetings is not revealed.

POST-WAR TRADE RECIPROCAL TREATIES EXPANSION POLICY BILL IN AMERICAN SENATE WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, told the Finance Committee of the Senate to-day that the extension of the reciprocal trade treaty programme would help to cushion the economic shock when 100,000,000 people now engaged in Avar work all over the world sought private employment. The State Department was proceeding on the theory that after the war either complete totalitarianism or sanity would dictate trade policies.

Mr. Hull, in. detail, defended the reciprocal programme, commending it as the sole specific attempt to break down tlio highly developed state of chaos in world trade. The statement opened the fight in the Senate for the passage of. the bill. The indications are that the Senate will follow the course adopted by the House of Representatives, which on Friday voted by 216 to 168 for a three years' extension of reciprocal trade treaties, after defeating by 161 votes to 144 a proposal to make them subject to ratification by Congress. . More than ?0 crippling amendments were offered before the final passage. All were overwhelmed. The measure was of such political importance, because trade treaties may be a major issue in the Presidential campaign, that party leaders kept their members readily available during the day. The voting was on party lines.