Evening star., 1938-04-12
BRITAIN TO SEND
ENVOY TO ROME TO
SEAL FRIENDSHIP
Hore- Be|isha Expected to
Visit MussoIini on Way
Back From Malta.
HOPE TO WEAN IL DUCE
AWAY FROM GERMANY
Move in Ethiopian Question Is
Hailed as Effort to Bring
italy Into League.
BACKGROUND

oAC AChoNOOND-
Apparent readiness OF Great
Britain and Italy to sign nep
friendship pact cast hopetul Hght
on Europe's efforts to STAGE OF gen.
eral mar. The agreement, to end
an'mosities dating from outbreak of
Ethiopian War in 1885, mas BEING
shaped tor signature Saturday.
Recognition OF Italy's African en-
pire is one OF chief terms of pact.
By The A. sociated Press.
LONDON. April 12.-Prime Minister
Chamberlain is planning to send one
OF his key ministers to call on Premier
Mussolini to seal Britains new friend
ship with Italy, informed sources said
today.
War Minister Leslie Hore- Belisha,
it was said, would stop in Rome on his
return from an inspection trip to the
British fortified Island of Malta in
the Mediterranean and quite likely
will pay a courtesy call on Signor
Mussolini''
The dapper go-ahead war minister,
travelling by air, was due in Malta
Saturday and to return to London
April 25.
He would thus call in Rome about
week after the expected signature
OF the Anglo Italian agreement.
Informed sources insisted there was
no political significance attached to
the visit. but observers noted that. if
the call was made, it would be the
first by any British cabinet member
since Anthony Eden went to the Pal
azzo Venezia to discuss the Ethiopian
question and other problems with II
Duce June "a. 1885.
They felt Minister Hore- -Belisha's S
visit would have been impossible if the
embittered atmosphere of the last two
and half years had not been dis
PEELED
Home to Break Up Alliance.
The British government, meanwhile.
moved forward doggedly today with
the intention of signing a friendship
agreement with II Duce SATURDAY.. un-
mindful Of opposition uproar.
The new friendship with Italy. It
was hoped. would wean Premier Mus
solini away from his diplomatic alli-
ance with Adolf Hitler in the Rome
Berlin axis.
Wel-informed quarters in Rome be-
lieved the Italian government was
anxious to loosen the bonds of CO.
operation between Rome and Berlin.
In Geneva the British move to
bring the question of recognition of
the Italian conquest of Ethiopia be-
fore the League of Nations Council
May 9 was interpreted hopefully as
the forerunner of an effort to bring
Italy back into the League.
Britain'S promise to work through
the League for recognition of Mus
soliM's African empire was one Of the
chief points of the Anglo Italian
agreement being drafted.
To Reconcile Sea Strength.
One OF the points TO be reconciled
in the prospective pact was British
and Italian interests-including naval
and military strengthen the Medit-
erranean and Red Seas.
The speed with which negotiations
had progressed since March 13, when
Chancellor Hitler proclaimed his an
nexation of Austria, encouraged
friends of Premier Chamberlain to
believe Premier Mussolini is anxious
to relax his ties with Germany.
Critics contended Premier Mussolini
was only playing Britain against Ger
many and endeavorng to increase his
bargaining power with the Fuehrer.
who is due for a visit in Rome three
weeks hence
The liberal News Chronicle today
charged the Ethiopian recognition sec
ton of the Anglo Italian understand
ing was final betrayal of the only
attempt the British government has
made-and 4 very f-hearted at
tempt at that-to uphold the sanctity
of peace and justice in international
affairs"