ROME MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23702, 9 January 1939, Page 7

ROME MEETING

TANGIBLE RESULTS UNLIKELY MR CHAMBERLAIN’S POSITION MAY INCREASE HIS PRESTIGE (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Jan. 7. (Received Jan. 8. at 9.30 p.m.) The Manchester Guardian’s diplomatic corresnondent says it is becoming increasingly more difficult to see how the Rome meeting can produce a tangible result except ending the appeasement policy. If Mr Chamberlain goes home without surrendering anything and is resolved to continue this policy his prestige at home and abroad Will become very strong.

The Daily Telegraph’s diplomaticcorrespondent says it is believed that Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax will leave no doubt in Signor Mussolini’s mind that the ParisLondon axis is as strong as the Berlin-Rome axis and that they will bluntly discountenance territorial changes at the expense of France as changes opposed to the AngloItalian agreement, while nonterritorial concessions are purely an Italo-French question.

ALL THE TRUMP CARDS HELD BY MR CHAMBERLAIN PARIS, Jan. 7. (Received Jan. 8, at 9.30 p.m.) A meeting of the Higher War Council which will follow M. Daladier’s return, is regarded as most important in view of Mr Chamberlain’s visit to Paris, which is universally welcomed. The newspapers express the opinion that Mr Chamberlain will hold all the trump cards at Rome as he knows the Italian weaknesses, poverty and heavy taxation, while the army, detesting the Black Shirts, does not desire war with France. The conversations with Signor Mussolini will prove Anglo-French solidarity, A PROBABLE SUGGESTION SPANISH ARMISTICE LONDON. Jan. 8. (Received J|*i. 8, at 11 p.m.) The Dispatch says Mr Chamberlain will offer Italy financial and economic assistance if Italy withdraws from Spain, after which Mr Chamberlain will suggest a Spanish armistice as a preliminary to mediation between the rebels and the loyalists, but he will not grant General Franco belligerent rights. Led by Viscount Cecil, and accompanied by the Duchess of Atholl, a peace campaign deputation submitted at 10 Downing street resolution begging the Government to emphasise in the course of the Chamberlain-Mussolihi conversations that Britain could not be friends with Italy until Italian intervention in Spain ceased, that belligerent rights cannot be granted to General Franco, and that protection inside and outside territorial waters must be extended to British ships and sailors on lawful occasions.