WHITEHALL WATCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19893, 22 March 1939, Page 5

WHITEHALL WATCH

COMMON FRONT NO TIME FOR CONFERENCE PARIS SUPPORTS STAND BERLIN VITUPERATION IL DUCE HOLDS ALOOF (Reed. Mar. 22, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Mar. 21. An interview of 40 minutes between the Polish Ambassador to Britain and the Foreign Minister, Viscount Halifax, was the chief diplomatic event of the forenoon to-day. Germany has not broached the question of the abrogation of the Anglo-German Naval Treaty. Actually the treaty does not contain provision for denunciation and can only be terminated by the mutual consent of the parties. It is stated that the British Cabinet does not favour the Russian proposal for a conference against aggressor powers. Though the chances of an early attack on Rumania are now discounted in London the Cabinet feels that the need for action is so urgent in a situation so liable to produce a new crisis without warning that there would be no time for a full-dress conference which also would have the disadvantage of taking important Ministers from key points in a critical time.

French Unanimity

Paris messages state that the French press unanimously praises the common-front plan. M. Leon Blum, writing in Populaire, praises the British Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, and the Foreign Minister, Viscount Halifax, whom he says are applying themselves to effacing the bitter memories which the events of September left in the minds of the leaders of Soviet Russia. He considers that rapprochment between Britain and the Soviet would toe followed by an "ideological bloc" of peace.

Berlin reports that the German press continues to vituperate against the democracies in general and Britain in particular. The Boerscn Zeitung says that the fact that the British "clutch at the Soviet straw is not evidence of statesmanship, but of conclusive hate, impotence and bottomlesf, hypocrisy. The League England is organising against us will not frighten us." The Spanish Nationalist, General Franco, has telegraphed to Herr Hitler congratulations on his Czechoslovak coup. No Praise From II Ducc The fact that Signer Mussolini has not yet sent congratulations has not escaped the notice of the Nazi leaders in Berlin who are believed to regard it as a sign that 11 Duce is impatient with the German successes while he continues to mark time. It is reported that the German Air Minister, General Goering will take to Italy a sop to Signor Mussolini in the shape of Herr Hitler's assurances of a large measure of support for the Italian claims in the Mediterranean. After seeing important German leaders Dr. Bernard Attolico, the Italian Ambassador to Germany today left 'Berlin for Rome to report. Dr. Attolico had two hours of talk with Herr Hitler ibefore leaving for Rome with a message from HenHitler.

A message from Rome states that Signor Mussolini is having a conference with Count Grandi, the Italian Ambassador to Britain, and Dr. Attolico after a meeting of the Fascist Grand Council to-night. Newspapers in Rome state that Signor Mussolini On Sunday will announce Italy's reaction to recent events and new goals.