Evening star., 1940-11-12
Hitler, Mo|otoff
Talk in Berlin
For = Hours
Commissqr Received
At ChonceIIery After
Seeing Ribbentrop
BY LOUIS p. LOCHNER,
Associated Press War Correspondent.

and Soviet Premier Vyacheslaff
Molotoff, meeting for the first time
in their lives, conferred well into
Berlin's blackout tonight on matters
that may exert a profound effect on
axis movements toward the Darda-
nelles and Near East.
Early this evening they had talked
nearly two and a half hours in Ber-
Inns splendidly remodeled chancel-
lery. With them were German For
eign Minister Joachim Won Ribben-
trop, Russian Foreign Vice Commis-
sar v. G. DekanoZof and an inter-
prefer, for neither Hitler nor Molo-
toff speaks the others language.
A curious crowd stood outside the
inky windows of the chancellery
dark like every other Berlin build
ing for the duration of the war.
But the sun went down and the
moon began to shine brightly, and
still Molotof did not emerge.
Then at $40 pm. Molotoff and
his aides left the chancellery by
motor car.
Molotoff called on the chief Of
the Nazi state after he had talked
with Ribbentrop.-
The drums of the S. S. (Black Shirt
Elite Guard were rolling when the
car containing Molotoff and Baron
Won Doernberg, protocol chief of the
Foreign Office. drew up in front of
the chancellery.
Greeted at Station.
Otto Meissner, Hitler's executive
secretary, and other prominent Nazi
military men stood at attention,
gravely saluted and led the Russian
statesman into the massive building
and to the grand gallary where the
Fuehrer stood amidst the splendor
he himself helped to design
Molotoff, making his first visit to
Germany, arrived at HOS am.
Ribbentrop and other high Nazis
greeted him at the station and he
was driven to Bellevue Castle, where
he will stay. Later he talked with
the foreign minister at the Foreign
Office A gala reception was ar
ranged for tonight.
Although fanfare was absent
from the greeting which the Rus
sian statesman received as he left
his special train, Germans made
no secret of the fact that they
regarded Molotoff's visit as of great
consequence.
Some informed Nazis indicated
an invitation might be extended to
Russia to become the partner Of
Germany. Italy and Japan In
planning their new world order" !"
Honor Guard Reviewed.
Molotoff was welcomed by Ribben-
trop and a number of high Nazi
government and military ofiicials as
he stepped from his train.
After a formal greeting, Rib
bentrop conducted Molotoff down.
stairs to review an honor guard in
downpour and then the party left
by automobile for Bellevue Castle.
Except for two big Russian and
Nazi flags and a screen of green
laurel trees, adorned with strips of
gold. which partly walled off the
platform. the station was almost
bare of decoration.
Simplicity appeared to be the key
note, in contrast to the welcomes
accorded Italian, Hungarian and
Yugoslav statesmen on the occasion
of their recent visits here
Dignitaries Are Present.
Molotoff's special train halted
several hundred feet from the spot
on the platform where it had been
expected to stop, and a large as
sembly of German dignitaries, aug
mented by the Japanese, Turkish
and Chinese Ambassadors, and the
italian charge d'affaires (Ambassa-
dor Dino Alfieri has been i'll for
some time), had to move hurriedly
forward to greet the visitor.
Ten minutes later, Molotof and
Ribbentrop. accompanied by a
German interpreter, headed a pro-
cession which filed along the plat
form to the distinguished visitors
room.
Molotoff, smiling and talking
animatedly in Russian, gesticulated
approvingly toward the flags hang
ing side by side in the room. He was
dressed somberly in a black sack
suit, a white shirt and black tie, a
pepper and salt overcoat and light
gray slouch hat.
AS Molotoff emerged into the
square outside the station, where the
honor guard flanked by SIS men in
field gray had taken up their posi-
tions, military band played the
Present Arms" march.
Molotoff took of his hat every
time he passed an officer. Unlike
other state receptions, when bands
have played the national anthems
of visiting diplomats, the band
lapsed into silence as soon as
fCo. MOI OTOIaE noro ol