PLANS OF AXIS UPSET

Southland Times, Issue 24249, 5 October 1940, Page 5

PLANS OF AXIS UPSET

HITLER CONFERS WITH MUSSOLINI

SPECULATION AROUSED BY MEETING

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 4, 11.30 p.m.)

LONDON. October 4.

Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini met' at the top of the Brenner Pass this morning. The fact was not officially admitted until they actually met and then only in a one-line communique. They were accompanied by their Foreign Ministers, Herr von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano, but it is not known whether they all met together, or whether Herr von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano conferred together in a

separate railway coach. The meeting has raised much speculation, but there is no doubt it was brought about by the failure of Germany to bring the battle of Britain to a quick and decisive end. The dictators must now review their plans, since it is evident that Britain cannot be overcome by a blitzkrieg. A diplomatic correspondent, commenting on the meeting, said that no doubt Hitler and Mussolini would discuss the question of fresh allies. They had signed a pact with Japan, and they were now trying to get Spain to join them. But Spain was facing very serious economic problems and, if she were induced to take a more active part in the war, it would only be through Germany and Italy using the methods of gangsters. The dictators probably also discussed the methods of straightening out their differences with Russia.