Evening star., 1939-04-16
Cool Reception
Greefs Roosevelt
Appeal in Italy
Premier MussoIini TuIks
With Goering About
Message From U. S.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
ROME, April 15.-President Roose-
velt's appeal to Benito Mussolini and
Adolf Hitler for a 10-year guaran-
tee against aggression got cool re-
ception tonight in Italy
Premier Mussolini conferred with
Field Marshal Hermann Wilhelm
Goering Of Germany as Fascists ex-
hibited scant sympathy for the
Presidents move.
1t was doubted that Mussolini
would reject flatly Mr.. Roosevelt's
proposal, but informed Italians and
foreign diplomats were virtually
unanimous In believing it would not
be accepted.
An oblique ansWer-once more
setting forth claims of Italy and
Germany to what they maintain is
their rightful share OF the worlds
wealth-was considered likely.
Text Distributed.
The official Italian news agency,
Stefani, distributed the Presidents
full text without comment.
Diplomats pointed out that italy
hardly could be expected to ENTER
into a world peace plan inaugurated
by note implicitly accusing Italy
and Germany Of being aggressors
and distributors of world peace.
In instances of the latest nations
to disappear the German and
Italian contention has been that no
attack was made but that the Czechs
asked for German protection" and
the Albanians asked to be delivered
from King zog's yoke"
Diplomats said, that while such
assertions may appear ridiculous to
the United States and other coun-
tries. they were taken seriously IN
Germany and Italy.
Duce and Goering Discuss Plea.
Premier Mussolini and Marshall
Goering were understood to have
discussed President Roosevelt's
peace appeal.
The conversations, in which For
eign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano
participated, followed a session of
the Chamber of Fasces and Guilds
which accepted the crown of AL
bania for Italy's King Victor En-
manuel.
II Duce received Mr.. Roosevelt's
note before going into the chamber
session.
While there was no publication
Of the Presidents action In Italy,
news of it spread rapidly. Diplo-
mats and Fascist officials turned
their attention quickly from Count
Ciano's defense of Italian occupa-
ton of Albania before the Fascist
chamber to the new development.
There were widespread reports
that the italian foreign minister
would fly to Munich to represent
Mussolini at conferences tomorrow
with Hitler. This did not appear
probable, however, since Count Ciano
was scheduled to sit in on further
talks between II Duce and Goering
tomorrow.
Fascists were silent on the sub
ject Of Mussolini's answer until they
learned his reaction.
Ciano Speech Moderate.
In the chamber session Count
Ciano in a moderate speech gave
the world assurances Of Mussolini's
desire for peace and collaboration.
He voiced special promises to Yugo-
Slavia and Greece that Italy harbors
no desire to make inroads on their
independence or territory and he
forecast increased cooperation with
them.
Count Ciano also gave British
Prime Minister Chamberlain assur-
ances that the italian legionnaires
in Spain would return triumphant
ly" to the fatherland after having
marched past Gen. Francisco Franco
in nationalist victory parade.
This presumably will take place
about May 2, when Gen. Franco is
expected to enter Madrid
dispatches Friday from Ma
tionalist Spain indicated the VIC
tory march might be postponed
until about May 15)
Count Ciano insisted that Italian
annexation of Albania did not vio-
late the 1888 Italian British accord
and he said that Italy would con-
tinue to adhere to the pact, which
provides for maintenance of the
status quo in the Mediterranean
area.
Gayda Issues Warning.
Before the session opened the
newspaper Giornale d'tIalia ap-
peared with an editorial by its
authoritative editor, Virginio Gayda,
warning of an acute, perhaps even
explosive stage" in werld events.
Speaking of "the present situa-
ton" as. being 80 brlrdened with
events and imponderables," Gayda
said Italy and Germany were able
to confront 1.-The system of encircle-
ment' with forces powerful and
Tor the most part equal and SIM
liar" to the hybrid association" op-
posing them.
An Albanian delegation which
came to Rome to offer King Victor
Emmanuel the crown OF Albania
occupied place of honor in the
chamber. Eight Moslem chieftains
among the delegates were conspicu-