The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-22

The first Welles conversation with Mussolini was entirely ex- ploratory. The Italian premier impressed upon him the fact that Italy was a -belligerent rather than a neutral, and had a very definite interest in the outcome of the war. Italy believed with Germany, Il Duce said that if Welles and the Allies wanted 10 alleviate unrest and the semi warfare which had disrupted Eu- rope since the first World War, they must get down to the root cause of unrest-namely, raw ma terials.
 MussOlini proceeded in some detail to tell how he had been forced to conduct campaign in Ethiopia in order to get raw materials.
 MussOlini said that he was quite sure Germany would be satisfied with the status quo Gin other words, peace permitting her to retain her victories over Poland and Czechoslovakia) and, he said, peace undoubtedly could be worked out along these lines.
 Mussolini warned that the world should not be misled by Ger many's scuttling of her own ships, which he said was no sign of weakness, but consistent policy. It meant that Germany was ready to scuttle the entire Reich, if necessary.
 Welles made no proposals to Mussolini, merely remarked that he was beginning his trip. was there to listen, and would come back for another talk later.
 NOTE-Edda Ciano, daughter of the Dictator and wife of the foreign minister, took Mrs. Welles on tour of Rome, during which they bought some silks. On the whole, the trip started pleasantly. HITLER WAS POLITE
 Diplomatic observers expected Hitler to give Welles one of his usual long-Winded, ill-tempered harangues.
 No love had been lost between the two men in the past, igor Welles, when acting secretary of state, several times had issued scathing statements against Der Fuehrer.
 But on this occasion, Hitler
 was friendly and cordial. He
 talked in general terms, leaving
 the detailed discussion for
 Foreign Minister vOn Ribben-
 trOp.
 Germany wanted peace, Hitler said. but only on terms under which she could live. The world, he said. had arrived at a con- dition in which little nations could exist no longer at least as economic units-though it was possible, perhaps, for them to survive as national units.
 THEREFORE, GERMANY PLANNED TO COOPERATE WITH AND ABSORB SOME OF THEM ECONOMICALLY.
 This statement by Hitler had much to do with Roosevelt's mes- sage to the Conference of Foreign Missions last week, in which he warned that there could bo no sound peace eff small nations live in fear of powerful neighbors." This message created great re- joicing in London and Paris, and was admitted by Roosevelt,s close advisers to be a rebuke to Hit Ter.
 RIBBENTROP GIVES DETAILS
 Foreign Minister von Ribben- trop spoke in more detail.
 One interesting point he made was that after the war, Great Britain would launch a vigorous drive to recapture its Latin Ameri- can markets and squeeze out the United States. Therefore, the German foreign minister advised that the United States waste no time in exploiting Latin America immediately. This. he added, would meet the approval of Ger many.
 As Germany sees 1t, Ribben- trop continued, there Is ample room in the world for all major countries. The United States can cooperate economically with