The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-06


 and London would De announced later and he would not confirm re- ports he would meet King George. To Shorten Trip It was indicated when Welles left the United States on his special mission for the president that he would be gone between six weeks and two. months. Now 1t appeared he would bo back in the United States about March 26, or within five weeks of his departure.
 There were reports that Welles had received instructions from Washington to limit his talks in Paris and London, his next stops, to three days instead of one week each, but these reports were not con- firmed.
 Bright spring weather, as well as what was said in Berlin during Vel. less visit there, indicated that ma jor action in the war might not be distant, particularly in view of the fact that Adolf Hitler. seemed to have put aside any idea of peace by negotiation to prepare for a war to the finish. Omcial statements and press comment in Berlin in re. cent days have been increasingly pointed toward the irnrninence of smashing blows"
 Big Drive Waits
 There has been general comment in places which WelleS has visited that neither Germany nor the AL lies would be likely to unleash any hig drive by land or air until Well le- had completed his tour and was on the way home with his confi- dential report for the president. However, there was no real basis for such speculation because such a drive naturally would come without v'arning.
 In this connection Welles, unless he succeeded in penetrating what seemed to be 8 secret to- everyone else in Berlin, including many per- sons close to Hitler, still did not know where the second phase" of the war would be staged. The odds seemed against a push on the west ern front, although one important German official told me in Berlin that Germany was confident 1t could drive 8 breach in the Maginot Line within eight days.
 Anxiety lest the neutrals such as the Scandinavian countries, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and the Balk- ans be involved in the war seemed as acute. as ever, but there was no real information.
 May Be New Appeal
 There was considerable specula- on among those watching the pro- gress of Welles' tour whether Pres ident Roosevelt might issue Hast" peace appeal to the belligerents - perhaps flor the record" Welles returns and makes his con- fidential report.
 It was held that any such appeal could hardly contain any concrete peace proposals but that the presi- dent might point out the conSe- quences of real war, and suggest that the present stalemate be al- lowed to continue until some basis for peace negotiation was presented.
 Welles, by his tact in his talks, so far Is believed to have dispelled a great part of the suspicion among the Allies that he might be the bearer of some sort of peace plan, however nebulous.
 During his two days of rest here WelleS has talked to Leland Harri. son, American minister to Switzer- land, and is believed to have sent a long report to the president.
 He leaves for Paris shortly after midnight tonight in a special car sent by the French government and is due in Paris about noon tomor- row. G a. m. EST).
 Talks In France
 In Paris, Welles was expected to talk to Premier Foreign War Min. ister Edouard Daladier, Finance Minister Paul Reynaud and other leaders, and perhaps to some non- government men such as Leon Blum. former Socialist premier. Similarly, it was believed that in London his governmental guests might invite him to talk to such opposition lead- CTS as Maj. Clement Attlee, of the Labor party. There was interest in the likelihood that he would see, and get some straight from the shoul- der" talk from Winston Churchill. First Lord of the Admiralty.
 Aside from discussing the Euro pean war with French and British leaders, Welles was expected to seek information about the Russo Finnish war and the outlook for Allied