Evening star., 1939-08-24
Military Chiefs See
MussoIini as Fear
OF War Rises in Italy
PopuIoce Is Anxious;
Press Appeals to
Britain and France
NJ the Associated Press.

- the Associated Press.
ROME, Aug. 24.-Premier Musso-
ini discussed military matters today
with the chiefs of the Italian army,
navy, air force and Fascist militia.
The conference at Mussolini's Of
fee in the Palazzo Venezia took
place as Italians viewed the Ger
man-Polish situation with increasing
concern, at the same time holding
hopes that a peaceful settlement
might be arranged.
The chiefs with whom Mussolini
conferred were Gen. Alberto Pari-
ami, undersecretary of war; Admiral
Domenico Cavagnari, undersecretary
of navy; Gen. Giuseppe Vale, un-
dersecretary for air, and Gen. Luigi
Russo, chief of staff of the militia.
Received at the same time was
Gen. Gastone Gambara, new Am
bassador to Spain, who formerly
commanded the Italian troops in the
Civil War there.
Italian shippers were advised that
the French railroads had refused to
accept any further freight shipments
from Italy.
Tourist agencies said few Ameri-
cans were leaving the country, al
though the American consulate ad-
vised tourists to depart if they had
no particular reason for staying.
Populace Anxious.
A forecast of DanZig's return to
Rome's axis partner, Germany,
within the next few days, now that
the German-Soviet Russian nom
aggression pact has been signed,
awoke Italians to the imminent
danger.
Rome, however, continued to ap-
pear outwardly calm. awaiting the
orders of Premier Mussolini and,
perhaps, his intervention with some
last-minute plan, although there
was no indication that he would
offer one.
Diplomatic activity was sus-
pended, and Foreign Minister Count
Ciano was reliably reported to have
gone to Santana di Valdieri,
where King Vittorio Emanuel is
passing the summer.
The outlook for war was anxiously
discussed wherever two Italians met.
The newspapers, reporting feverish
preparations at London and Paris,
asked: Has war, then. been de-
cided?"
HOPE British Will Yield.
Newspapers reported the signing
OF the German-Soviet pact, the
"dismay" of France and Great Brit
ain, Adolf Hitler's uncompromising
plans and the war preparations OF
the various powers with headlines a
half-page deep.
They failed to mention, however,
that both the British and French
Ambassadors in Rome had informed
Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo
Ciano in categoric terms that France
and Britain would answer Poland's
call for help.
The press retained hope that Lon
don and Paris would yield at the
very last.
The Danzig Senate was expected
to vote the Free City's return to
Germany, perhaps by tonight, so
that Hitler could accept the action
in his speech at Tanner berg next
Sunday. There were some who
thought armies might be in action
by Monday.
Some announcements of 1taly's
mobilization plan was expected to-
day. The government has been
silent as to its preparedness meas
ures the past few days, but rumors
of military activity have been rife.
Appeal to Democracies.
The press increased its urgent
appeal to France and England to
avert war, attributing to them en-
tire responsibility for the crisis. II
Messaggero repeated the view of
Premier Mussolini that there is no
question in Europe which cannot be
settled peacefully"
The newspapers asked if the Brit
ish and French want to fight to
prevent Danzigs return to Ger
many, or to avenge diplomatic de-
feat at Moscow.
England is not in peril, nor
France, nor Poland" II Messaggero
argued.
I'VE want still to refuse to be-
lieve that extreme consequences may
arise. Not only in our hearts as
men, but more and above all in
our capacity as Italians to reason
coolly, we find motives for not be-
lieving in the complete alteration
of those who have in this moment
the responsibility Of power in Eng
land and France"