Evening star., 1939-12-17
Killers Difference
With MussoIini
Revealed by Ciano
Neutrality Of ItoIy Was
Agreed Upon as Result,
Foreign Minister Says
p the Associated Press

'o'SISl Nuss'StSt SuyS
p the Associated Press
ROME, Dec. 16-Foreign Minister
Count Galeazzo Ciano declared to-
day that Italy, three years from her
sef-set goal of military might, was
keeping out of Europe's war in order
to localize it.
He disclosed that Adolf Hitler had
agreed to Italy's non-belligerency
last August after a difference of
views with Benito Mussolini en- route
to settle Germanys claims against
Poland.
Other points made by the foreign
minister in a lengthy explanation of
Fascist foreign policy before the
Chamber of Fasces and Guilds:
l. Italy always is ready to aid in
restoring peace. but she is equally
determined to protect with an in
flexible f1rmness the interests of her
land, air and sea traffic" her pres
tige and her future as great. power.
2. Italy opposes as useless the for
nation Of Balkan bloc of neutral
powers, but desires ito maintain and
consolidate peace and order in the
Danubian and Balkan sectors"
3. Italy remains loyal to her part
nership with Germany. The foreign
minister used Mussolini's words of
March 26, when he said the time of
waltz turns is definitely past"
First Expose in Year.
His speech was the first exhaustive
expose of the italian position in
more than year.
Mussolini and diplomats of war
ring and neutral countries alike
listened attentively as the 36-year-
old Ciano, II Duce's -in-law, in
dicated Italy would be involved in
war only if her prestige and inter-
ests as an imperial power were chal-
lenged. United States Ambassador
William Phillips was among the
foreigners.
Ciano warned Great Britain and
France real peace would be impossi-
BILE as long as they insisted on res
toration of Poland, Czecho- -Slovakia
and Austria.
Whoever wishes to work success
FULLY for peace" he said, must keep
to the firm ground of reality"
He declared the German rap
prochement with the Soviet Union
would have been avoided had Brit
ain and France not forced it on
Hitler by efforts to draw Russia into
their plans ito encircle" GERMANY
The foreign minister did not men,
ton Finland
Differences Revealed.
He disclosed that differences of
views between Italy and Germany
appeared for the first time at Salz-
burg over the way in which Hit
Ter insisted on regaining the Free
City of Danzig.
German Foreign Minister Joach-
I'm Won Ribbentrop, Hitler and
Ciano conferred there August lib
Previously, in Milan in May before
the German-Italian military alli-
ance was signed, Ciano said Ger
many and Italy agreed ION the ne
cesslty OF making every effort to pre-
serve and consolidate the peace of
Europe for long time.
The duration of this period of
peace necessary both to perfect their
internal reconstruction and COM
plete their military preparation was
was fixed at three years by us while
the Germans spoke of four or five
years"
They agreed, therefore, to raise
no new disputes, Ciano said. He
pointed out the Polish
controversy then was far from the
acute stage when it no longer could
be settled by negotiations.
Told Reich of War Fear.
Fascist commentators, celebrating
on the speech, said Count Ciano
frankly told Won Ribbentrop in
August in Salzburg that Italy be-
heved a German march on Poland
might lead to war. But Hitler ap-
parently thought Britain and
France would avoid fighting.
Mussolini urged one more attempt
at a peaceful solution, it was re-
lated, and got Hitler to agree to a
joint declaration that they thought
diplomatic negotiations still were
possible
But Hitler and Won Ribbentrop
IN "long talks" told Ciano why Ger
many could not accept further de-
lay, at the same time clearly" show
ing Hitler's desire to limit the con-
f1ict.
AS explained by the authoritave
Editor Virginio Gayda in II Gior-
male DItalia, Germany then went
her way, which led unexpectedly to
the rapprochement with Russia.
IF only the great democracies
had ignored Russia" the foreign
minister said, Germany would have
had good reason to do likewise"
ell A