ROME PREPARES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 9

ROME PREPARES

EVE OF MOMENTOUS TALKS BRITISH REPRESENTATIVES DEPARTURE FROM LONDON GREAT WELCOME ASSURED (United Press Association) (By Electric. Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Jan. 10. Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax, with their advisers and secretarial staff, left at 11 a.m. for Paris on the" first stage of their Rome visit. After conversations with M. Daladier and M. Bonnet late in the afternoon, they will board the Rome express for an all-night journey. They will be greeted at Genoa on the morning of January 11 with civic and military pomp, and after that will go to Rome as the guests of Signor Mussolini. There will be a State banquet in the evening. The. conversations will take place on January 12 and 13. A great public welcome is being prepared in Rome. All public buildings are flying British and Italian flags, and the palatial Villa Madama, where the delegation members are staying, has been specially renovated and gaily decorated. .. Observers comment on the absence of extensive police precautions, in contrast to Herr Hitler's visit,. BOOS FROM UNEMPLOYED {POLICE SMASH COFFIN l (Independent Cable Service) LONDON, Jan. 10. Amid boos and catcalls from Left Wing demonstrators and. unemployed at one end of the platform, and the cheers of their supporters at the entrance of their' compartment. Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax left Victoria Station at 11 a.m. for Paris on the first stage of their Rome visit. Unemployed demonstrators, carrying the famous black coffin, tried to rush the platform, shouting, "Appease the unemployed, not Mussolini! " but the police halted them, smashed their coffin, and pursued them through the entrance hall. SHORT STAY IN PARIS INTERVIEW WITH MINISTERS :■■■'■]'■ ißrttish Official Wireless) RUGBY, Jan. 10. The following official communication was issued in Paris:—" On their way through Paris while en route to Rome, Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax took the opportunity to have an interview at the Quai D'Orsay with M. Daladier and M. . Bonnet. - This conversation confirmed the complete l identity of the general views established between the two Governments." \ ITALIAN PRESS COMMENT A TILT AT FRANCE ROME, Jan. 10. An acid tone marks the evening paper comments on Mr Chamberlain's "diplomatic cup of tea" in Paris. Leader writers and correspondents abroad have clearly been Instructed to comment unfavourably and state unanimously and state unanimously that the " French Government forced a political conference down the throat of the British Prime Minister, who would have preferred an informal rest .between two trains."

France is accused of wanting to 6how the world that Mr Chamberlain cannot, accomplish anything useful without a preliminary conference with the French Cabinet.

While the newspapers are critical against France, they publish long and . complimentary biographies of Mr Chamberlain, who is assured of a popular welcome, strangely contrasting with that given to Herr Hitler. The city is beflagged, but the populace has noticed that there have been no searches for suspects, and although a full-dress guard of honour is being provided, there will be no great military display nor any special protection for Mr Chamberlain, The reception will be spontaneous, with no organised cheering groups of militiamen. Women are especially anxious to greet the visitor, believing him to have been largely responsible for their husbands and sons not having to go to war in September. Fascist headquarters frankly admit that it is unknown what line Signor Mussolini v/ill take. It must be remembered that the Italian Government has so far given not the slightest, indication of its views regarding the claims against France, though it is believed that these have been formulated. VAGUENESS ON ITALIAN SIDE SURPRISES POSSIBLE LONDON, Jan. 11. (Received Jan. 11, at 5.5 p.m.) The Manchester Guardian's diplomatic correspondent, stresses the point that Mr Chamberlain went to Rome without a nlan for discussion. While the vagueness on the Italian side is so great that surprises are considered possible the British delegation is prepared for anything. It is believed likely that Signor Mussolini will stress Anglo-Italian trade relations. He still regards the Spanish problem as not being ripe for discussion. , '■.. —-»—-■ i TERRITORY IN AFRICA THE ITALIAN CLAIMS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Jan. 10. The newspapers, commenting on the Rome visit, describe it as one primarily of courtesy, made in response to Signor Mussolini's invitation to Mr Chamberlain at Munich and accepted with a view to a general improvement of mutual understanding rather than a settlement of particular questions. The Times, after expressing sympathy with France's attitude towards the Italian claims for various

territories in and around the Mediterranean which are apparently directly contrary to the spirit and letter of the Anglo-Italian agreement, which confirmed the status quo of the whole Mediterranean area, says: "It has fortunately to be recognised that neither Signor Mussolini nor his Government formally put forward the scheme in the dimensions in which it has filled the Italian press. They have, in fact, disowned them, and the way may thus still be open for some modification here and there of the present position in Africa." Apart from the Jewish question, The Times assumes that the refugee question may well come up for useful discussion, but otherwise it would perhaps be too much to hoDe for immediate and positive results from the present visit, which, nevertheless, would be of inestimable value if it contributed to the common desire of the vast majority of mankind for the earliest normalisation of international relations.

The Daily Telegraph also anticipates that the conversations will be mainly exploratory and consultative rather than exolicit and definite. Among the subjects likely to arise in addition to French and Italian relations and Spain, the Telegraph mentions Palestine, Jewish immigration, Suez Canal dues, and perhaps Mediterranean fortifications.