Evening star., 1940-10-04
All Axis Problems
Gone Over, Says
Communique
ey the Associated Press.

BRENNERO Italy, Oct. 4-The
directorate of the Rome berlin
axis, Benito Mussolini and Adolf
Hitler, held a three hour council
of war, today and discussed "all
the problems" confronting their
countries, according to a COM
munique issued just before their
parting.
Hitler's armored train headed
back through Brenner Pass at
2:4O pm. and II Duce's armored
train rolled away southwark five
minutes later, leaving the world
to wonder what, if any, world
rocking move had been planned.
The door of the dining car on
Mussolini's train opened at 2:35 pm.
and the Fuehrer and II Duce stepped
out, followed by German Foreign
Minister Joachim Won Ribbentrop
and Italian Foreign Minister Count
Galleazo Clano.
Reviews Honor Guard.
Hitler reviewed the honor guard
of Grenadiers. He shook hands with
Mussolini. said good-by and entered
his car. Then he stood at a win
dow, exchanging Mussolini's salute
with outstretched arm.
Immediately afterward, while a
military band played the Italian
anthem and a group of Blackshirts
cheered, Mussolini entered his train
with Count Ciano and departed.
(The United States and her
possible place in the longrange
war plans of the axis were re-
liably reported in Rome to have
been a prime topic of consulta-
ton, along with plans for all
front extension of the war against
Britain0
Before their departure, Hitler,
Mussolini and their Foreign Minis
ters went to lunch in the dining car
adjoining II Duce's parlor coach.
Communique Issued After Meeting.
Here at the little border town of
Brennero. nesting in Brenner Pass,
there was, of course, no word as to
the precise nature of the dramatic,
unheralded conference. one of a
series in which the Fuehrer and his
partner have planned world-shaking
events. but a communique issued at
lunch time said:
within the framework of the
ordinary exchange of ideas. II Duce
and the Fuehrer met today at Bren-
ner for a cordial reunion conducted
within the sphere of the axis.
The two chiefs during three
hours examined in the presence of
Foreign Ministers Count Ciano and
Won Ribbentrop all the problems
confronting the two countries.
Gen. Won Keitel attended the last
part of the talk
Conversations then were con-
tinued during lunch, at which the
two foreign ministers took part"
Show of Ceremony Made.
Despite the unheralded nature of
the parley, the encourages from Ber-
lin and Rome mustered a show of
ceremony never lacking from such
events.
While the morning sun gilded the
Alpine peaks and strove against the
fog lying deep in Brenner Pass an
Italian band played the Nazi and
FascistS anthems. Hitler and Mus
solini flung out their arms in the
Nazi and Fascist salutes and shook
hands on the red, f1ower-banket
carpet spread on the station plat
form.
Mussolini was a half-hour ahead
of his collaboration at their rendez-
vous. He had time to review an
honor guard of the Fascist militia
and chat with Count Ciano and
Hans -Georg Viktor Won Mackensen,
German Ambassador to Rome, be-
fore Hitler, also travelling in an arm
ored train, arrived.
Two Accompany Fuehrer.
There was a display of warmth in
the handshake of the two leaders.
Colleen. Wilhelm Keitel, chief of
the German high command. and
Dino Alfleri, Italy's Ambassador to
Berlin, accompanied Hitler
After this brief greeting the
Fuehrer and II Duce crossed the
platform to Mussolinis train and
shortly after II am. began their
talks iii the presence of Count Ciano
and Won Ribbentrop.
Nazi and Fascist gun crews man.
ming the anti-aircraft batteries of
the two trains were guests at noon
mess given by the Brenner Fascist
recreation organization.
In Rome, Stefani, Italian official
news agency, said the meeting was