Evening star., 1939-08-29
Italians Look 10 Duce
To Make Last-Minute
Move for Peace
MussoIini Is Reported
Urging Hitler to Be
More ConciIiotory
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ROME, Aug 29.-Italy felt that
today would be a decisive one in
Europe's history, but retained the
serenity she has shown throughout
this crisis.
Watching Berlin for the answer to
the great question-peace or war
Italians also looked to Premier Mus
solini to step in at the last moment
and save peace, in the event the ne
gotiations between the British gov
ernment and Adolf Hitler broke
down
An informed source said Mussolini
! had been informed by the Italian
Embassy at Berlin early today of
the contents of the latest British
note and had sent Chancellor Hitler
message with his comment upon it
Informed persons said the 'Duce
was advising the Fuehrer to be a
little more conciliatory.
AS reports of pessimism and war
preparation came in from other
countries, life went on normally here
in almost every respect. The
people displayed optimism which
astounded the few remaining for
eigners.
1t was not because they were un-
informed, for the controlled press
reported events with unusual OBJ
jectivity and stressed the situation's S
seriousness.
Trains Running Normally.
Other countries closed frontiers
and cut off communications, but
Italy maintained open frontiers and
normal telephone and telegraph
service, except with those countries
which cut them off.
Railways operated normally. Food
shops had their normal supplies.
There was no rush to stock up VIC
tuals. Theaters were open. Cafes
were as busy as ever.
However, a ban on civilian auto
mobile traffic was ordered in Italy
beginning next Sunday to conserve
gasoline supplies for war use.
Exemptions my be granted by the
military authorities in cases of spe-
cial necessity.
Restaurants were ordered to serve
only one meat or fish course begin
ming tomorrow.
Dim blue anti-air-raid lights were
on in few Rome streets, but most
of the city was Illuminated brightly
A million and half men were
under arms. But no more military
uniforms than usual were seen on
Rome's streets, because the greater
part of those in service were at the
frontiers, military reservations or
special training camps.
Officials expressed pride that the
country was retaining such COM
posure, but said it must not be taken
as an indication Italy was unpre-
pared.
Unlike the people, they tended to-
ward pessimism, saying there "is
very little in the situation to give
cause for much hope"
The Princess of Piedmont spent
the day awarding prizes to workmen
and students at Aosta, close to the
French frontier.
The fact that Great Britain's
Ambassador Sir Neville Henderson
talked an hour and 20 minutes with
Hitler when he delivered the British
reply in Berlin was taken as a good
sign in Italy. 1t was reasoned that
meant there still was something
to talk about.
The Papel secretary of state, Luigi
Cardinal Maglione, returned to the
Vatican today. interrupting his va
cation.
He received the French ambassa-
dor to the Holy See, Charles Roux
Msgr. Amleto Cicognani, apos-
tolic delegate to the United States
returned to Rome from Spain, where
he visited his brother.
Blue lights were installed in Vat
ican City's principal courtyard as
an air raid precaution.
More care, less dare,