AMERICAN ENVOY

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21043, 20 February 1940, Page 6

AMERICAN ENVOY

TO VISIT MUSSOLINI

POSTWAR SETTLEMENT COLLABORATION BASIS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Feb. 18 A radio message from the representative of the United Press who is accompanying Mr Summer Welles, Assistant Secretary of State, to Europe, in the Italian liner Rex, says Mr Welles will see Signor Mussolini and Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, immediately he arrives at Rome on February 27. He will try to lay down a basis for collaboration between the United States and Italy in a post-war settlement.

Italy is represented as being receptive to suggestions, because she feels that Washington, recognising the importance of Italian arbitration, believes the conversations at Rome may set the tenor of the whole of Mr Welles’ mission. The fact that Mr Welles will not be seeing the Pope or the monarchs of Belgium and Holland can be attributed to the fact that President Roosevelt does not want the Assistant Secretary’s visit to Europe to be regarded as a peace mission. The new United States envoy to tiie Vatican, Mr Myron Taylor, will keep in touch with the Pope's peace plans, and will emphasise, on his arrival, that his mission is not connected with that of Mr Welles.