Rome, Mar, 19.
That Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini discussed a German-Russian-Italian Balkan bloc for keeping the Balkans and Danubian Europe definitely out of the war is a theory gaining ground here. Political observers tend to combine this initiative with the peace treaty between Finland and Russia, and the firm position of the Scandinavian countries as neutrals.—Reuter.
"Rearrangement of Europe"
Amsterdam, Mar. 19 "No peace plan but a Russians Italian rapprochement and a Russian. German-Italian rearrangement of Europe" is the latest diagnosis of the conversation between Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, at Brenner yesterday, by well-informed Dutch correspondents in Berlin.
Official German circles will still go no further than to describe foreign reports of the talk as "speculation and, at the same time, to oppose ener-ge tically any tendency to minimize the importance of the event. The German ress praises the solidarity of the Axis and refers to alleged uneasiness in Paris and London. In official circles, however, there is now open talk of the desirability of a better understanding between Russia and Italy.—Reuter, n-Moscow-Rome Declaration Zurich, Mar. 19.
A combined declaration by Germany, Italy and Russia to maintain peace in the Balkans is regarded in Berlin as one of the likely consequences of the meeting between Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, according to Berlin reports published in the "Basler Nachrichten,"
Observers in Switzerland believe that Germany, having secured her northern flank against attack, is trying now to protect herself in south-eastern Europe by enlisting Italian and Russian support to exclude the Allies from that region. It is thought that Germany already gained an advantage by aiding the reconciliation between the Iron Guard and the Rumanian Government.—Reuter.
Hitler Wooing Bucharest Bucharest, Mar. 19.
Germany's policy toward Rumania 1s inspired by a desire to forestall diplomatic manœuvres on which Moscow is expected to embark shortly, according to Allied observers here. Circles in close contact with the Soviet Legation here emphasize that Russia must safeguard her position in the Black Sea but disclaim knowledge of any intention on the part of Russia to demand naval bases on the Rumanian coast.
Germany is wooing Rumania with a promise that Herr Hitler will not allow ary pressure on Rumania by Russia, according to these quarters, Another German manœuvre is the offer of large supplies of anti-aircraft guns for the defence of Rumania,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.