OPPOSED TO WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20888, 21 August 1939, Page 7

OPPOSED TO WAR

MUSSOLINI’S ATTITUDE SENSATIONAL RUMOUR ADDRESS BY THE POPE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Te!. Copyrlgrbt) LONDON, August 20 Intense interest has resulted from a report by Reuter’s Berlin correspondent that the Italian Ambassador, Dr. Attolico, visited Herr Hitler at Berclitesgaden yesterday and delivered an unfavourable reply from Signor Mussolini to a vital question raised in the talk between Herr Hitler and Count Ciano. There is no indication as to what the question is related to, hut it is reliably stated that Signor Mussolini is strongly opposed to war and is supporting the Pope’s moves behind the scenes to induce a peaceful settlement, especially of the Danzig question. The Pope today received the Polish Ambassador to the Holy See. It is understood that the Danzig situation was discussed. Addressing Italian pilgrims the Pope urged them not to abandon hope. Rulers were conscious of their responsibility and wanted to spare their peoples from disaster, lie besought statesmen throughout the world to settle their differences peacefully and advised prudence and reserve while a wai ting d c v e 1 o p m e n l s. Change in Italian Press The Italian press campaign has been significantly toned down, and the newspapers are now adjuring “our old friends the Poles” to negotiate with Germany without delay. The announcement that Signor Mussolini would shortly visit Albania was made at Tirana, the Albanian capital, by Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, and was cheered by a crowd.