THE DICTATORS MEET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23870, 22 January 1941, Page 6

THE DICTATORS MEET

An intensification of hostilities on the part of the Axis, and particularly on the part of Germany, must be expected as a result, of the latest meeting between Hitler and Mussolini. On the several occasions that ilie two dictators have met since .March of last year, little time has been wasted in pleasantries. .Ruthless and unscrupulous action has followed in every instance, variously directed and not conspicuously .successful when Italy has assumed a major role, and it is a fair assumption that at the latest meeting Hitler was less concerned with upbraiding Mussolini on his recent failures than with informing him bluntly of the steps that Germany proposed to take to correct them. Two dictators met at their undisclosed rendezvous, but the events of the next, few days may show that only one real dictator remains. At any moment Italy may receive a knock-out blow in the Mediterranean and Hitler must act before that happens. He must impose his own military authority on Italy before Italy's military collapse occurs and the suggestion from Home of "a single armed force, with unity of command as well as of purpose" is an indication that Mussolini has had to listen to his master's voice. It is only to be expected, therefore, that German efficiency and cunning will be increasingly employed in the Mediterranean theatre of war, while at the same time there are indications that a direct German assault on the stronghold of Britain is imminent. The whole circumstances of the meeting between the dictators ominously support the American prediction of an early crisis.