Evening star., 1939-08-11
Axis Ministers
Conferriing on
.Danziig' S Fate
Ciono Is Believed
Urging Germany
To Avoid War
BACKGROUND-

The Reich's aris partner. Italu,
IN the past friendly to Poland,
has shoWn little enthusiasm for
Germdny'S strong stand on Dam
zig. Hitler 1Oas reported to haze
promised, Uhen the Italo-Ger-
man military alliance Uds siqned
IN May, that he 1Uould risk no
10dr Uith Poland. Foreign minis
terS OF the t1Do poWers hare not
conferred since the signing of
the military pact
BY the Associated Press
SALzBURG, Germany, Aug. IL
Italian Foreign. Minister Count
Galeazzo Ciano arrived here today
for a three-day conference with
German Foreign Minister Joachim
Won Ribbentrop to attune the Rome
Berlin axis to new conditions in Eu.
rope.
Count Ciano brought suggestions
from Premier Mussolini on what
the closely cooperating political and
military partners should do about
the Free City of Danzig, the Balkans
and the Far East.
The two ministers began imme-
diately on conversations which. it
was acknowledged in every con-
tinental capital, may have a pro-
found bearing on the course Of
events in unsettled Eastern Europe
IN the next few weeks.
The tuO foroior,
pected to travel tomorrow to nearby
Berchtesgaden to see Adolf Hitler.
now at his mountain chalet. Plans
call for them to spend the afternoon
and perhaps the evening at the
Fuehrer's retreat.
Count Ciano stepped from his
train with broad smile and shook
hands heartily with Won Ribben-
trop. who escorted him between
rows of Hitler youth to a waiting
automobile.
No Announced Program.
The German foreign minister ac-
companied his guest to Oesterreich-
ischer Hof, where the Italians were
quartered.
Ribbentrop left Immediately and
Count Ciano, wearing a gay blue
suit, followed a half hour later to
the scene of their meeting. Castle
Fuschl, Won Ribbentrop's 18th CEN
tury summer home about is miles
south of here
Beyond this afternoons talk,
which was expected to last until
dark, there was no announced pro-
gram.
The questions of Danzig and de
fensive measures" against what the
Rome-Berlin partners have called
"encirclement" by Great Britain anc
France were expected by many OBJ.
servers to be the cruX of the dis
cussions. Talk of japanese par
tlclpation in the Italian-G German
military alliance figures in axis dis
cusslons of the alleged "encirc.e-
ment."
Even the question of peace or war,
it was held by some neutral OBJ
servers, might hinge on the outcome
of the talks.
May Suggest Moderation.
The general impression in we'll
informed circles was that Count
Clano would present from Mussolini
the suggestion that Germany pro-
ceed with moderation. The Italian
Premier was represented as oppos-
ing any action which might lead to
conflict with Poland.
Whether such a suggestion would
be adopted remained a question, but
there was no doubling the Italian
recommendation would receive full
consideration in highest German
quarters.
1t was reported reliably that
questions as to the attitude of
Hungary and Yugoslavia in the
event of continental emergency
would be explored. But the most
urgent problem was Danzig. which
at a rousing protest meeting last
night reiterated its wish for politi-
cal union with Germany.