Evening star., 1940-06-03
Roosevelt Reported
Feeling Out Allies
In Peace Move
Indirect Approach From
Berlin to Sound Out
French Reported
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.

There are rumorS in reliable
quarters that President Roosevelt is
trying to feel out the Allies regard
ing an early conclusion of the Euro
pean war.
These rumors have not yet been
substantiated. 1t is reported that
the American Government has been
approached indirectly from Berlin
to sound out the French regarding
cessation of hostilities From which
quarters this approach has been
made cannot be positively ascer-
tanned.
But is is known that Mr.. Roose-
welt has been in constant communi-
cation with Premier Mussolini for
the last 10 days. The Italians, de-
spite the bellicose tone of the goy-
ernment-inspired press and of all
their leaders, have not yet entered
the war, although Germany-their
potential ally-has scored spectacu-
lar victories. The Italians continue
to threaten the French with words,
but they have not translated words
into facts.
These considerations lead we'll
Informed quarters to believe that
the suggestion for another attempt
to put an end to the war may have
come from Mussolini himself. 1t is
admitted in these quarters that
something is goin on" and that "a
situation similar to that of 1916
exists again" But outside these
general statements nothing more
positive could be learned in the last
"a hours.
Modified Hitler Terms"
In diplomatic circles it is be-
leved II Duce has made a sugges-
ton to Washington to become the
. intermediary between the belliger-
ents on modified Hitler terms" 1t
is believed the Fuehrer is willing
to coat the pill of victory by having
his own way, but offering the French
parts of Belgium in exchange for
substantial territorial concessions
to Italy, the recognition of all the
conquests Germany has made and
disarmament" on the basis of dis
mantling the Maginot Line. No one
In Washington volunteered the spec
ulation on what Hitler would want
from the British.
That Mussolini is willing to sell
1taly's intervention at present
for settlement of the war on Ger
many's terms seems probable. He
knows Mr.. Roosevelt is anxious to
bring about peace negotiations. The
President still believes much good
could be achieved at the conference
table where nations could discuss
their problems after having had a
taste what modern warfare means.
Mussolini is said to want to exploit
this feeling of Mr.. Roosevelts by
pointing out that Italy's entry into
the war now would mean the execu-
toners last blow to the Allies.
French Reported Cool to Idea.
The same unconfirmed reports say
the French are cool toward such
proposals. They know that unless
the Germans sue and do not merely
offer peace, a peace discussion at
this time is nothing but a camou-
faged surrender. The French and
the British, battered as they have
been during the last three weeks, are
convinced Germany has made her
supreme effort, already the main
strength of the hurricane has been
spent, and that with the support of
American industries they can put
an end to the Hitler regime. They
appear unconcerned over Italy's
threat to join the fighting They
seem to regard Italy's entrance as
the tail end of the hurricane and
believe they could weather it with
out trouble. They might be induced
to consider peace conversations, but
not on Herr Hitlers camoufaged
terms.