Major Chinese Counter-Offensive Impossible Unless More Foreign Aid is Provided London, June 11.
Both Italy and Germany are making every effort to turn their assistance to General Francisco Franco in the Spanish war to their economic and politico! advantage.
Towards this end, Herr Hitler has sent his Minister of Economics, Herr Wohltat, to Spain, while talks are in progress in Rome between Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, and Senor Suner, Spanish Minister of the Interior.
The conversations in the Italian capital are said to be for the purpose of paving the way for commercial, economic and political agreements with a view to the eventual adhere ence of Spain to the Axis, Count Ciano is expected to go to Madrid at the end of this month to sign these agreements, Signor Mussolini yesterday received Senor Suner, who was accompanied by Spanish military and naval missions, at the Palazzo Venezia, after which LI Duce and General Franco exchanged cordial telegrams proclaiming eternal friendship between the two countries.
In Berlin, the mission of Herr Wohltat is regarded as of the greatest importance to German industry.
The Minister of Economics is said to have been sent to prepare the ground for concrete trade relation Germany is particularly interested in Spain's ores and minerals, especially iron. and she hopes to obtain concessions for opening her own furnaces on the spot and acquiring mining rights.—Reuter. I
Count Ciano's Visit Rome, June 16 The Italian Foreign Minister, Count Galeazzo Ciano, will probably visit Spain during the last week of June, several organs of the press here reported today. The Minister will be repaying the visit made to Rome by Spanish Home Minister Serrano Suner a short time ago.
Well-informed political circles foresee the conclusion of political and economic accords between Spain and Italy as a possible result of the visit to be paid to Madrid by Count Galeazzo Ciano. They however consider unlikely the signature of mili tary accords, since such agreements could only be tantamount to a complete integration of Spain into the axis.
On the other hand, it is held not impossible that minor general staff agreements ba concluded between Italy and Spain.
The big problem, however, remains that of economic relations between both countries, as the debts contracted in Italy by Nationalist Spain amount to more than eight billion liras and Italy will certainly try to obtain from General Franco repayment of this sum. by a participation in the development of the natural riches of Spain.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.