Evening star., 1940-03-24
Berlin Expecting
MoIotoff Visit 10
Forge Italian Tie
Belief Persists in Spite
Of ass Denial Soviet
Premier Will Make Trip
BY LOUIS p. LOCHNER.

BY LOUIS p. LOCHNER,
Associated Press Foreign Correspondent.
BERLIN, March 23.-Oficial Ger
many apparently Is convinced that
Russia's Premier and Foreign Com
missar, Vyacheslaff Molotoff, will
at last visit Berlin to- cement anew
the recently formed Berlin Moscow
friendship and remove any obstacles
to Russian-Italian cooperation for
the duration Of the European war.
Tass, the Soviet official news
agency, issued a statement in Mos
COW describing rumors abroad con-
cerning Molotoff's proposed visit as
devoid of any foundation" The
Tass statement, which did not dis
count the possibility of his coming
soon, was interpreted here as a
move to counteract reports that
he already was in Germany.
Men usually well informed put
the date of Molotoff's likely arrival
all the way from next Tuesday to
q fortnight hence.
CianO May Make Visit.
1t was believed possible that
1taly's Foreign Minister, Count Ga
leazzo Ciano, might be in Berlin
at the same time, although it could
not be learned definitely whether
negotiations had progressed far
enough to permit this.
If and when Molotoff comes to
Berlin it may be taken for granted
that a three-power understanding
concerning Southeastern Europe will
result, according to which Russia,
Germany and Italy, without giving
up their ideologies and without tie
Ing themselves beyond the dura-
ton of the present war, will agree:
l. To keep the Balkans at
peace, and
2. To consult the Balkan ma
tions themselves on the kind of
arrangement necessary in South
eastern Europe after the present
war to ensure a stable peace.
After the Brenner Pass confer
ence between Fuehrer Hitler and
Premier Mussolini last Monday,
sources in Berlin usually well-in-
formed said it had been agreed that
Russia would join the Rome Berlin
axis in political. Theological
maneuver by which Russia would
aid Germany's war effort by supply
Ing raw materials without actually
becoming belligerent. Rome re-
ported that Hitler and Mussolini
agreed to forge a barrier of neutral
states around Germany in the SOUTH
east with Russia's help. thus making
Germany invulnerable to attack
from that quarter.
Ribbentrop Stays in Berlin.
German officials for the most part
went home or to the countryside
today for brief Easter vacation
believing that Molotoff would come,
although authorized sources re-
mained as non-committal about
rumors to this effect as they had
been about the meeting at Brenner
Pass Monday. They would neither
affirm nor deny, except to say that
no political events of magnitude
were in prospect during Easter"
Foreign Minister Joachim Won
Ribbentrop is remaining in Berlin
over Easter-another indication that
he is working on something more
than routine matter. Although
yesterday was Good Friday and a
legal holiday, the Foreign Minister'S
personal staff worked feverishly.
Political circles believed these aides
were arranging details for reception
Of the Soviet Premier.
At the Russian Embassy the eau
tious reply to inquiries was: "The
exact date for events in the offing
is not yet set" There were other
indications that the Foreign Office
and the Russian Embassy we're pre-
pairing for Molotoff visit.
It was understood that the Ger
man, Russian and Italian govern
ments were taking their time about
closing their three-power agreement
to permit crystallization of the re-
suits of the. French Cabinet change
and other developments.
Teleky Visiting Rome.
Meanwhile, official Germany re-
garded the visit of the Hungarian
Premier, Count Paul Teleky, to Pre-
mier Mussolini this week end as the
natural outcome of desire by ma
tions having special friendship
with one another to remain in close
touch in these fateful days.
According to Diplomatisch-P Poll
tische Korrespondenz, semi Official
mouthpiece of the Foreign Office,
Count Teleky wanted to discuss with
Mussolini the Danubian question as
affected by the Brenner conference.
This organ admitted that certain
Balkan nations may have tried to
use the occasion of a major conflict
among Germany, Britain and France
to try to settle their own scores. but
wise craftsmanship counsels against
such course, it said.