Sept. 24.
With the return of Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, from Rome to Berlin, a welter of speculation has arisen as to what] was discussed in the Ialian capital during the four-day visit. It Is generally claimed by Berlin that these conversations herald Imposing future developments, though only a few days ago it was claimed that they were of a purely routine nature. The fact that they lasted as long as they did, however, suggests that important problems were dealt with, and possibly far-reaching decisions made. From various quarters all sorts of suggestions emanate as to what was decided, ranging from new plans for a winter campaign against Great Britain, to the division of Africa between Italy and Germany for colonization purposes under the "New order" which Hitler meditates for Europe, while the question of the Balkans is also reported to have received attention. With regard to the first of these it is becoming increasingly apparent that with the knowledge that th fair battle of Britain is not going in their favour, and that winter may come before any decision is reached, the enemy must! plan new ventures.
It is reported, therefore, that the Axis Powers contemplate striking at the British Empire elsewhere, possibly in the Near East through the Balkans. But it must be remembered that directly any such move is made it will amount to an overt confession that the attack on the British Istes themselves has failed. Napoleon, when he found the invasion of Britain impossible, did pre-isoly the same thing by striking south-east cards, and there is a considerable similarity between the plans of Hitler and what Napoleon actually carried out. It is possible that Germany may seek to reinforce the Italians in northern Africa, not only for the purpose of possibly contributing to victory in that area, but also to establish a claim for the division of the spoils in the unlikely event of the Axis Powers emerging victorious. It will be a precarious venture until the Italians have secured undisputed command of the Mediterranean, which they have not obtained up to the present, and are unlikely to do, so long as they keep their navy in the safely of their well-fortified harbours.
In the Balkans the Axis Powers have much to do. Obviously an attempt is to be made to dragoon Greece into siding with the aggressor Powers, though not, apparently, until she has been obliged to satisfy territorial claims put forward by Albania and Bulgaria. The former will have the backing of Italy, while undoubtedly Russia will be quietly behind Bulgaria. "On the other hand Italy has claims against Yugoslavia ambitious enough to seck to secure the whole of the Yugoslav coast and transform the Adriatic into an Italian lake. Doubtless the Axis Powers will have to proceed in the Balkans with considerable caution. The entry of Russia into that part of the world has not helped to simplify their tasks in bringing to it the "New order" on which the German Teaders so continually harp. There is also the possibility that both Germany and Italy will seek to bring pressure to bear upon Turkey in order to persuade her to withdraw her support from Great Britain, Frantic attempts have been made in the past without the slightest success and the manner in which Brilain is standing up to her tasks is a direct incentive to Turkey to remain true to her bond.
There remains the question of Spain. It is believed in some quarters that Spain will center the war for the purpose of endeavouring to recapture Gibraltar, probably in the fond belief that were she to capture it she would be allowed to retain it after en Axis victory. Nothing can be further from the truth. It would become an Italian fortress, for the Mediterranean can never be "Mare nostrum" for the Italians unless they obtain complete control of ils entrances. Spain sadly impoverished as a result of her civil war is in no real position to embark upon now hostilities, but General Franco may be persuaded to do so out of a false sense of loyalty to those governments which assisted him at a time when he was playing their game. To sum it all up, there appears to have been some counting of unhatched chickens in these Rome conversations, and the preparation of new activities against Britain, but, as all dispositions have been made against every conceivable emergency, the future can be awaited with confidence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.