DICTATORS' MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 21

DICTATORS' MEETING

HITLER AND MUSSOLINI INTEREST IN LONDON "LITTLE EFFECT" OF TALKS (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, Sept. 29. The meeting of the two dictators, Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, has been followed with the closest interest in London, despite the view that the consequent talks will have little effect on the European situation. Every phase of the visit has been fully reported, with some emphasis on the elaborate police precautions taken to outwit possible assassins or conspirators. The first meeting of the two dictators took place on the Munich station, on September 25. Mussolini made his entry in a bullet-proof train. Waiting on the platform to greet the Duce were Herr Hitler, wearing the uniform 01 a Nazi Storm Troop commander and all the members of the German Cabinet. Mussolini was wearing a field-grey uniform with the Fascist-black beret. Hitler smiled broadly as he went forward to meet his guest. After greeting one another with the Fascist and Nazi salutes, and shaking hands warmly, the two dictators hurriedly left the station. From the moment the first greetings were over the Duce set the pace. He strode out of the station and across the square, where companies ot fc>.&. guards, Nazi labour corps. Brown Shirts Air Force, and naval ratings were lined up as guard of honour,j at such a speed "that Herr Hitler found difficulty in keeping up with him. ine inspection lasted less than Ave minutes, and by six minutes after the train had drawn in the Duce and Herr Hitler were seated side by side in their open car ready to start their drive through thfi city. An awkward moment for Herr Hitler occurred a few minutes before Mussolini's train arrived. He was surprised to find that his high party official* were not waiting for him outside—they bad already entered the station—and angrily asked a high police official where they had gone. The man murmured some excuse, and Herr Hitler strode on alone. He had recovered his composure when the Duce descended from his train, and walked alone along the red-carpeted platform to greet him.. At the moment when Signor. Mussolini left the station the wh,ole Munich local telephone service was, at the request o. the Italian secret police, put out of action for an hour. It is believed that this action, without precedent in Munich, was to prevent collusion between possible conspirators. After a rest at the Prince Karl Palace. Signor Mussolini drove, accompanied by Herr Hess, to Herr Hitlers private flat in a distant residential quarter. This courtesy call lasted just over an hour.

The most impressive demonstration of the day was held in the Royal square, also known as the ."Place of Eternal Vigil," which is flanked by the Temple of Honour A podium had been erected as a saluting base, and the square was filled by about 50,000 spectators, at least half of whom were in uniform. For an hour the two dictators stood while detachments of every Nazi formation filed past. Fresh from even more exacting drill at Nuremburg, their discipline and marching were excellent, and, if the Duce's feelings may be judged by the remarks of the Italians around him. he must have been greatly impressed. When the parade was over he looked at his host snd nodded his head several times in emphatic approval. It was noticeable, however, that the two men did not exchange a word during the actual parade. After a tea party, to which some 400 German artists and film stars had been invited, Signor Mussolini visited the new art exhibition, of which Herr Hitler is specially proud because he has personally expurgated it of all the works that fail to attain his standard During the day Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini exchanged the highest honours which the Nazi and Fascist movements have to give. The Duce asked the Fuehrer to accept the rank of honorary corooral in the Fascist Militia. In return Herr Hitler decorated the Duce with the golden medal of sovereignty of the Nazi Party—an eagle mounted on the Swastika—which was formerly worn only by the leader himself.

The Duce later left by special train for the manoeuvres, followed in a separate train by Herr Hitler. The new German army was displayed in fighting trim the following morning, when Herr Hitler escorted his guest through the area where.the great autumn manoeuvres were taking place. He saw the fin'al attack of the Blue army on the Red positions. The Duce and the Fuehrer first watched the " fighting " from the lines of the Red 30th Division, which was holding up the Blue attack. They later saw a Red counter-attack, and the Red artillery and anti-aircraft guns in action. From the top of a hill which gave a view over the whole " battlefield they watched a great attack by over 100 Blue planes and scores of tanks.. The tour concluded with a visit to the air force exercises at Wustrow. Here, under the supervision of General Goering, a display of anti-aircraft and machine, gurt shooting was given. Alterwards the Duce was shown the latest types of Air Force planes. Mussolini's unexpected visit to the Krupp works at Essen unquestionably tipped the beam of his visit towards the military side. Originally party, ermy and publicity, interwoven with politics, were balanced, being allotted to Munich, Mecklenburg and Berlin. At the Krupp works Mussolini and Hitler watched the production of armament plating, the mass assembly of light and heavy guns with the aid of conveyor belts, the production of gun barrels (including heavy types for Germany's 35,000-ton battleships now. nearing completion),.and the assembly of naval gun turrets in a newly-erected hall of vast dimensions. They also inspected army vehicles built especially for traversing rough country, and they also looked into the assembly shop for locomotives, which is regarded as the largest in Europe. In Berlin a banquet, held in the Reich Chancellory, was attended by about 200 of the highest officials in Germany with their wives. Members of the diplomatic corps were not invited. The long hall overlooking the terrace of the Chancellory, built by Herr Hitler in 1934, was decorated- in white and gold, in contrast to the polished marble of its floors, the red marble columns and the heavily coffered ceiling. At the end of the room was hung a large tapestry showing a hunting scene, presented to Herr Hitler on his birthday last April by General Goering and believed to have cost fc6o,qou. Picked members of the protective guards were employed as waiters. Ihey wore white silk waistcoats with long sleeves, black silk breeches and long white hose with black pumps, bearing a wide bow. All had been carefully drilled in their new duties. At the banquet Herr Hitler greeted Signor Mussolini as "the brilliant criator of Fascist Italy, the founder of a new Empire." He referred to the " closely interconnected political ideals " forming a bond " closely uniting our peoples," and said that there were no separating elements but only those which complete and unite the vital interest of Italy and Germany. "The conversations which I have had in the last few days with your Excellency only confirm this once again," he continued "We believe that our political work aiming at securing peace and the high florescence of European civilisation cannot be interpreted as the formation of a block directed against other European States. On the contrary, we are convinced that we not only are serving the interests of our two countries, but also that, ot a general international understanding which is our most ardent wish. "In this spirit Italy and Germany will side by side examine and deal with political problems in order to oppose any attempts at separating the two nations or to play one off against the other." In his reply, Mussolini said:— " Italy and Germany are prepared to work toegther with all other nations of good faith. What they demand is respect and understanding of their needs, their necessities, and their justified requirements. As sole conditions for their friendship they ask only that there should be no attempt to interfere with the foundations of our glorious European culture. " The conversations which 1 have haJ with your Excellency in the last few days have strengthened our friendship against all attempts to disturb or separate us, from whichever side they may come. When I return to Italy 1 shall take with me the memory of your powerful troops, your popular demonstrations, and the work of physical and technical restoration which the German nation has fulfilled under its leader, the memory of your energy and of the reception which you have prepared for me, and for which I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Above all. I take back with me the definite conviction of our firm friendshin." , . . The prominence given to description of Germany's military strength and

the dazzling splendour of Mussolini s reception in Berlin has moved such dry subjects as naval talks and diplomatic steps far into the background for the time being for the average German. German quarters declare that any expectations that England and Fran 2 may hold of drawing Italy away from Germany by naval talks 6r conference about Spain do not perturb them. The Duce. they say, will have convinced himself at the manoeuvres that the Berlin-Rome axis is made of good material, and that a realistic power is at the back of it. In their early discussions Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, it is understood, did not reach the subject of Austria or Eastern Europe. Part of the time was probably given to denning the principles of the "axis" policy. If information current in Italian circles is correct, this, part of the may be reflected in future "in an increased sensitiveness to criticism of National-Socialist or Fascist institutions by foreign statesmen. Insistence on greater regard for the necessities of life of nations such as Germany, which complain of lack, of room, was probably another approved principle of "axis."

Italian quarters threw out hints that Signor Mussolini invited Herr Hitler to pay an early return visit to Italy and that the invitation was accepted without any commitment as to date. German circles offered the supplementary information that Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini discussed the situation in the Far East and the Mediterranean and Spanish questions, but with the object of coming to an agreed view on the facts in each case before drawing conclusions as to the policy which should be followed.