Evening star., 1940-09-30
Plans Luid in Talk
Of Ciono, KeiteI,
Ribbentrop, Suner
BY the Associated Press.

ROME, Sept. 30.-Joint Italian
German plans for fulflllment OF
axis goals-including Gibraltar
have been reached at Berlin con-
ference which included Col. Gen.
Wilhelm Keitel. chief of the high
command of German armed forces,
Virginio Gayda reported today.
The authoritative Fascist editor
said in II Giornale d1talia that a
meeting between Spain's Minister
of Government Ramon Serrano
Suner, italian Foreign Minister
Count Galeazzo Ciano, German For
eign Minister Joachim Won Ribben-
trop and Gen. Keitel had unified
plans of the three friendly powers. "
This was taken in some foreign
circles as sign that Spanish Gen
eralissimo Francisco Franco may
have agreed to allow German troops
to use Spain as a base for attack
on Gibraltar
Serrano Suner, who is on his way
to Rome, will settle any points at
issue between Italy and Spain in
conversations with Premier Musso-
lini, Gayda said
Morocco May Be Topic.
Possible plans for axH forces to
occupy French Morocco, and thus
close the Western Mediterranean
gate by holding both sides of the
strait. also were considered likely
topic for discussion between Musso-
lini and Gen. Frances envoy.
Foreign sources generally ex-
pected that Germany had sought
permission to use Spain as a base
both for Nazi troops and Italian
war planes.
How closely Spain would be welded
to the expanded axis. however, still
was obscure Referring to Spain,
Gayda spoke OF international agree
ments which are not always those
of immediate intervention of new
allies, but with concentric aims
which are those of total victory in
the war and preparation of the new
order in Europe and Africa
SPANS reward for translating her
leanings toward Rome and Berlin
into open alliance in the German
Italian-Japanese pact would be Gil
braltar, for more than two centuries
Britain's guardian of the Western
Mediterranean, Italians said
Gayda declared flatly that the axis
plans for arrangements of Europe
and Africa include restoration Of the
Rock to Spain.
L. S. Aid Not War Cause.
Further light on how the Rome
Berlin Toxic military and political
alignment looks on United States
aid for Britain was shed by a Fas-
cist authority who declared it would
not be cause of war.
Asked by a Spanish correspondent
whether sending arms to the enemy
would constitute reason to bring
into force the military clause Of the
alliance" this informant answered:
The sending of arms to the en-
emy could be violation Of neutral
ity and it may be examined by uS
at an opportune moment But it
would not be an attack. The clauses
of the pact provide only for cases
of attack and We will keep to the
letter of the pact
New Blows at Britain.
The high command reported new
blows against Britain in the Medi-
terranean. particularly by Italian air
power against British sea power.
A British submarine, the high
command communique said. was
attacked and sunk by an Italian
torpedo boat after it had torpedoed
a 7OO-ton Italian merchantmen
Torpedo-d dropping Italian planes.
it said, struck British battleship
with a torpedo near the stern.
The communique said the big war
ship stopped "and was Immediately
surrounded by enemy destroyers."
An Italian squadron was reported
to have bombed the British oil
terminus at Haifa. Palestine.
The communique said four British
planes were shot down, three pro-
tecting the warships and a fourth
lSee ROME, Page A-3D