The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-18
Only Four Persons
 In Conference Today
Continued From Page D

(Continued Foreign observers believed that If Hitler was the instigator he had two specific plans in mind for bottling up the Allies in the west and pro- tecting Germany's Hanks elsewhere, both of which required Italian help
 One was to bring rapprochment between Italy and Russia, both Germany's friends, eliminating the possibility that Italy's aversion to Communism would drive up to the Allies side. The other was to baintain neutrality in the Balkans, especially Rumania, which is in constant fear of territorial demands from Russia, Hungary and Bulgaria. In the latter connection it was con- sidered significant that Premier Paul Teleki of Hungary was leav- ing for Italy to spend Easter" Budapest dispatches said he plan ned to stay eight or l days and it was reported there that he wanted Italy and Germany.
 May Relate to WelleS
 There were other indications that the conference here was in some manner relatd to the conclusion of the exploratory tour of Europe by United States er-Secretary State Sumner Welles.
 The scene of their meeting was a town of 2,300 in the strategic pass through the Alps, between Italy and Greater Germany, now heavily fortified by Italy in spite of her friendship with Germany.
 A heavy snow lashed at the cur tained train windows as the two dictators met and talked for the first time since the Munich confer- ence and for the fifth time in their lives.
 It was recalled that the armistice ending the World War was signed on train--i nthe railway car of Frances Marshal Ferdinand Foch in the Forest of Compiegne at a. m. of Nov. II, 1913. For present day Europe, standing at the cross roads of peace or total war, and the decision date fast approaching with the arrival of spring, this confer ence might also earn a ranking place in history.
 C0mmuniQue
 A communique given out in Rome this afternoon said: "The Duce and Fuehrer this morning in the Duce's private car at Brenner Pass had a cordial conversation lasting two and half hours. Present at the conver- sations were Ciano and Ribbel1trop."
 Not until the noon editions of to- days Rome newspapers published word of the meeting in massive headlines did the Italian public know that Mussolini even had left Rome. Dispatches from Berlin said the news had been withheld simi- liarly from the German public.
 Italian newspapers published large photographs of both dictators and featured the German air raid Sat- urday on Scapa Flow.
 Muss0lini First On Scene
 Mussolini's train arrived at 9:S0 a. m. (3:30 a. m. EST) followed by Hitler's 40 minutes later. Picked Italian policemen and Alpine troops wearing steel helments and carry ing rifles with fixed bayonets guard ed the scene.
 Brennero, given little advance no- tice, had prepared hastily for its day in history by raising Italian German flags. The town is at A. J25-feet altitude, one of the lowest points in the mapor Lapine chain, on the route of trade caravans and invading soldiers since the days of early Rome. Today, the waterfalls here were masses of ice. The river paralleling the railway tracks was frozen. Snow covered the landscape and more snow as falling heavily.
 Brennero station, the frontier point besides being one of the most important functions on the pass, is the water shed for the Black Sea and Adriatic. Except for the railway station and two customs houses sep arated by about 300 yards of no mans land, there were no visivle signs of habitation. The town, Bren- nero, is about 10 miles back in Italy. The last time Mussolini was in this vicinity was in 1885, when he att tended army maneuvers on the frontier.
 First Greeting
 MuSsolini had changed from his dark business suit, in which he left Rome yesterday, into the uniform of the Fascist Militia when he and Ciano stepped from their train to board Hitler's as 1t rolled to a stop. The first greeting occurred on Hit ler's train and the Fuehrer, wearing a green-grap army uniform, was first off. There was brief review of the troops, handshaking. the play Ing of German and Italian anthems, then the dictators retired to Mus- solinis train.
 The German Ambassador to Rome, Count Hans Won Mackensen. came on Mussolini's train, along with Italian foreign office protocol of- flcials and Marquis Lanza BaJeta, the prefect of Bolzano. Hitler was accompanied by Ribbentrop. adju. tants. military aids and protocol of- fIcIais.
 Previously. Hitler and Muwolini had met in Venice in June. 1884: in Germany. ifi September. ie3T: ln 1 Italy h May. ie5e: and at Munich