Evening star., 1939-04-11
Britain Intensifies Its Efforts
To Bring Russians Into Bloc;
Fleet Is Mossed Near Malta
Possible Cancellation
Of Kings Visit to
U.S.. Rumored
European Situation

European Situation
BRITAIN INTENSIF1ES EFFORT
to get Russia into anti-aggresslon
pact; cancellation of royal visit to
America reported discussed.
Page Al
INTEGRITY OF GREECE guaran-
teed by Italy, Athens papers re-
port. Page Al
ALBANIAN ASSEMBLY TO MEET
tomorrow to set up new regime:
italian troops push into noun
talns. Page A
QUEEN GERALDINE Of Albania.
seriously i'll, taken to hospital in
Greece. Page Al
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, April 11-Prime Minis
ter Chamberlain today intensified
his efforts to bring Soviet Russia
into a European anti-aggression
pact as reports reached London OF
mounting Rome-Berlin activity in
Spain and the Balkans.
Ivan Maisky, Soviet Ambassador,
visited the foreign Office this morn
ing for a conference with Foreign
Secretary Viscount Halifax.
1t was reported reliably that he
had expressed the Soviet view that
the British Polish mutual aid pact
was not enough to stop the axis
powers. and to have discussed the
possibility of a wide agreement
which would include Rumania
Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria.
1t was reported, without contirma-
ton, that cancellation of King
Georges visit to the United States
and Canada might be a subject of
discussion as Prime Minister Cham
berlain went to Buckingham Palace
for conference with the King.
Repulse at Gibraltar.
The reports of possible cancel
lation because of European unrest
could not be borne out in official
quarters. So far as could be ascer-
tanned, plans have been going ahead
for a visit, which is to begin next
month.
The battle cruiser Repulse, which
was designated to take the King and
Queen to Canada, was at Gibraltar
today and there was speculation she
would be held there to strengthen
the Mediterranean feet.
The admiralty said the Repulse
was in fighting trim but that she
likely would return to Portsmouth
in about 10 days unless the cris:S
deepened. One informant said the
Repulse had been undergoing minor
corrective treatment after a shake
down cruise.
The diplomatic activity conceded
with concentration of the British
Mediterranean fleet, which was
hastily mustered from scattered
ports and steamed toward a rem
devious said by the admiralty in
London to be at Malta in show of
power apparently intended to reas-
sure the Balkans against any aggres-
sive Rome e-Berlin moves.
Admiralty officials denied that
any British ships were near the
Greek island of Corfu. off the Al
banian coast. or in any other Greek
waters. They said, however, that
the Mediterranean fleet was con-
centrating at Malta. the closest
British naval base to Corfu. Mr.
Chamberlain was said to have
warned Italy yesterday that seizure
of Corfu would be a cause for war
In informed quarters some sup
port was given to reports of unusual
activity along the Polish German
frontier and of increased Italian
troop concentrations along the Al
banian-Greek border.
British officials did not conceal
their anxiety over failure of Italy
and Germany to remove their troops
and technical experts from Spain.
1t was feared in London that if
war broke out France would have
b defend her Pyrenees frontier as
we'll as her eastern and Italian
fronts.
Although there was no official
confirmation, it was believed that
Britain, within the last two days,
had asked Premier Mussolini to
withdraw his troops from Spain.
Russian Aid Urged.
A week ago the World War Prime
Minister, David Lloyd George, told
Mr.. Chamberlain that "if we are
going in Ito guarantee of Poland
without the help of Russia, we are
walking into a trap"
Lloyd George was understood to
have urged the necessity of Russia's
active military support in another
private conversation with Mr..
Chamberlain. and it was believed
the Prime Minister now was doing
everything possible to expedite an
agreement with Moscow.
AS soon as Maisky left the foreign
Office Lord Halifax crossed Downing
street to see Mr.. Chamberlain. Their
conference preceded a meeting of
cabinet ministers.
Reports that Rumania had told
Britain she now was prepared to
sign a mutual defense pact were
denied in both British and
Rumanian official quarters. It was
admitted in both places, however,
that Such an agreement might be
reached shortly.
Reports that Premier Mussolini
had sent personal message to Mr..
Chamberlain assuring him that Italy
had no aggressive intentions toward
Greece lacked confirmation at both
the foreign Office and the Premiers
odice.
Labor Circles Anxious.
Despite denials, there was some
anxiety in labor circles that the
Prime Minister might be trying
to revive his appeasement policy
through direct negotiation with II
Duce.
(The Chicago Daily News re-
ported from London that Mr..
Chamberlain, in an eleventh.
hour plea to Mussolini, had at
tempted to patch up a temporary