Evening star., 1940-03-12
We||es Mission Topic
OF Ribbentrop and
Duce, Gayda Says
Fascist Editor Supports
Belief Italian Relations
With Soviet Discussed
BY the Associated Press.

ROME, March 12-Sumner Welles'
European trip today was ranked by
the authoritative Fascist commen-
tator, Virginio Gayda, as foremost
among the topics discussed by Pre-
mier Mussolini and Foreign Minister
Joachim Won Ribbentrop in their
conferences of the past two days.
Gayda, writing in II Giornale |
d'Italia, also supported the general
belief that Won Ribbentrop had
talked about relations between Italy
and Russia, saying the inexplicable
hostile attitude taken by Soviet Rus
sia toward italy now has been
somewhat rectified"
Foreign observers had conjectured
that the German foreign minister,
who also conferred with Pope Plus
XII, would seek to bring Rome and
Moscow closer politically because of
the existence of the German-Soviet
pact.
Other Fascist newspapers linked
Mr. Welles' European tour with the
proposal by Senator Pittman, chair
man of the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, for a 30-day truce
In Europe.
La Stampa of Turin declared
Senator Pittman's proposal ''let the
cat out of the bag" as far as Mr..
Welles' objectives are concerned.
On a speech Saturday Sena- E.
tor Pittman suggested an arm
istice so there could be calm
discussion" by the beligerents
looking toward permanent peaceJ
Duce Alone to Decide.
Having given Premier Mussolini
an outline of Adolf Hitler's inten-
tions, Won Ribbentrop is returning
to Berlin with word that italy will
stay out of war as long as Mussolini
considers it advantageous, informed
sources said
Noting reports that Won Ribben-
might have been to question and
persuade Italy and it's chief" II
TELEGRAPH of Leghorn, Foreign Min
lister Count Galeazzo Cianos news |
paper, declared:
Neither Italy nor II Duce is in
f1uenceable When II Duce thinks |
of changing the attitude assumed |
last September, he will do it on the
basis of absolutely his own evalua-
ton of events
Won Ribbentrop, after his week |
end talks here with Mussolini and |
Pope Plus XII, was seen off for |
home last night by Count Ciano and |
other Fascist leaders.
Svinhufvud on Way.
His path crossed that of Finland's
former President, Pehr Evind SWIM
hufvud, bound for Rome, presum-
ably to see II Duce after visit in
Berlin which was linked with the
drive to settle the Russian-Finnish
war.
Won Ribbentrop's conferences with
Italian officials were described off,
cially as an examination of the in
ternational situation" but authori-
tative Italians said the German for
eign minister's foremost aim was to
inform himself of Premier Musso-
linis views on the possibility of Rus
bian-Finnish peace.
Italians held it possible that
should peace fail in the northern
war, Britain and France might send
troops to aid Finland, with new
war front resulting from opposition
Of both Germany and Russia.
Won Ribbentrop left in Rome a
staff of German economic experts
headed by DR.. Karl Clodius, but
both German and Italian sources
said no new agreements between the
two countries we're in prospect.
Clodius' group merely will remain
few days to discuss operation of the
commercial accord signed about
three weeks ago to regulate ex-
changes between Germany and Italy
for this year.
Conversations Cordial"
Just what Won Ribbentrop dis
cussed with Premier Mussolini and
italian Foreign Minister Count
Galeazzo Ciano yesterday and Sum-
day remained secret, although
italians stressed that the conversa-
tons were cordial"
Also secret was the nature of Won
Ribbentrop's audience with Pope
Plus yesterday at Won Ribbentrops
request.
There was considerable specula-
ton that the Vatican's views toward
the Nazi regime and the possibility
of sending Vatican investigator to
German-held Polish territory were
discussed.
Neutral circles believed that the
German may have promised treat
ment of the church more satisfac-
tory to the Pontiff in return for ces-
sation of Vatican accounts of al
legged atrocities in Poland
The aims of Svinhufvuds trip to
Rome were garbed in silence Be-
fore leaving Berlin the aged Finnish
statesman was received by Baron
Ernst Won Weizsaecker, state secre-
tary in the foreign office, in the alb
sence of Won Ribbentrop.
Authorized German sources de-
scribed Svinhufvuds visit to Berlin
as private" and declined comment
upon it.