THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, January 11, 1939. THE VISIT TO ROME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, January 11, 1939. THE VISIT TO ROME

To-day Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax are due to arrive in Rome for the much-heralded conversations with Signor Mussolini. Excluding speculation, no hint has been given of the course those conversations are expected to take. The Times, discounting conflicting reports that have been current in the past few days, declares that the British Ministers are undertaking the visit solely in an exploratory spirit, and that there is to be no attempt either to persuade Italy into the formation of a new axis or to break down the resistance of France to the Italian claims for territory in Africa. Rather more emphatically to similar effect, the diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph expresses the opinion that, far from British influence being exerted against France, the 1 talks on the British side will be designed to convince Signor- Mussolini that the Paris-London axis is as strong as that existing between Rome and Berlin, and that territorial changes at the expense of France will be “ bluntly discouraged,” as being opposed to the Anglo-Italian agreement which was brought into force in November. Certainly it is difficult to resist the conclusion that, so far as contributions to appeasement by the democracies are concerned, the limit of concession has been reached. Indeed, little has been done in Italy itself to produce an atmosphere favourable to progress in the direction of appeasement since the visit of the British Ministers was arranged at the beginning of December. Hardly had the -announcement been made when Italy embarked on a violent if unofficial propagandist campaign for the surrender of certain French territories in Africa. That in itself amounted to a clear infringement of the spirit, if not the letter, of the AngloItalian agreement. Again, while Italy is committed to the evacuation of her nationals from Spain, as a condition precedent to the granting of credits by Great Britain, of which the Italian Government is ip urgent need, the fact remains that Italian regulars are being employed by General Franco in the offensive with which he is at the moment attempting to break * through the loyalist resistance on the Ebro front. These obvious insincerities will not assist toward the better understanding, the achievement of which is the chief purpose of the British delegation’s visit to the Italian capital. Conditions in Spain, obviously, must loom large in the conversations, if, indeed, as has been suggested, they do not centre wholly on the problem of putting an end to that deplorable struggle. Almost co-incidental with the signing of the Anglo-Italian agreement Lord Halifax told the House of Lords that Signor Mussolini had always made it plain, from the time of the first exchanges of views between Rome and London, that he was not prepared to see General Franco defeated. At the same time Lord Halifax stated that Signor Mussolini had by no means abandoned his desire to assist in the work of the Non-Intervention Committee. The obvious conclusion, in the light of continued Italian participation in the Franco cause since the completion of the Anglo-Italian agreement, is that Italy has no wish to contribute to any Spanish settlement except one dictated by Franco’s arms. These would be curious circumstances in which to invite discussions in Rome aiming at appeasement, even without the added provocation of the demands against France. Together they emphasise the peculiar pungency of the comment offered by Lord Strabolgi in Wellington a few days ago, that it is the policy of Europe’s dictators to maintain a general state of unrest and uncertainty, by creating a “nuisance value” and demanding concessions as the price of peace. If Signor Mussolini proves unwilling to make a single important and sincere gesture of friendship he is likely to find the British attitude on this occasion to be singularly uncompromising. France, for her part, has taken a definite and unequivocal stand by refusing to concede one inch of territory under Italian threats. In Great Britain there has been the clearest evidence in recent weeks of a hardening of the public attitude against the insatiable demands of the dictators for more territory, whether in Europe or elsewhere. The Prime Minister will go to Rome not unaware of that feeling, and there will be no great surprise if he returns to London with little accomplished in the way of 'improved relations, but nothing conceded to Italian ambitions.