FRANCO-GERMAN RELATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 23651, 28 October 1938, Page 7

FRANCO-GERMAN RELATIONS

Friendly Statement Expected

DIPLOMATS MEET IN ROME SURVEY OF INTERNATIONAL SITUATION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 27. 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 27. The German Foreign Minister (Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop) will hold a discussion with the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Galeazzo Ciano) on Franco-German relations, says the Rome correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. There is at present no question of a Franco-German pact, but Herr Hitler is expected to make a friendly declaration to France on the lines of the Munich document.

It will be necessary to see how far a “no more war” declaration between France and Germany can be reconciled with the terms of the Italo-German understanding, but in view of the recognition of Abyssinia by France the difficulty can be overcome. The correspondent adds that the resulting improvement in Franco-German relations should create an atmosphere in which negotiations for a non-aggres-sion pact can begin in the spring time. Elsewhere it is suggested that Herr von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano will discuss also the Italian and German answer to the British, American and French rearmament, the effect on Spain of the application of the Anglo-Italian agreement, the possibility of improved Anglo-German relations and Italy’s part in supporting the German colonial claims.

The Rome correspondent of The Times says a new affirmation of Italian, German and Japanese solidarity is improbable, because it would give a new and unjustified character to the triple pact.