Mr. Chamberlain then referred to the visit of Mr. Sumner Welles (United States Under-Secretary of State) and said the Government was happy to welcome him, and inform him fully and frankly of their views.
He was confident that Mr. Welles was able to get the actual views and sentiments of all sections of the community, and see for himself the unity of purpose with which they were all inspired.
When Mr. Welles returned to Italy, the Prime Minister commented, he found himself in the presence of a new event—the meeting of the two dictators on the Brenner Pass. That meeting had naturally given rise to many speculations as to its purpose. Some thought it was for the purpose of elaborating new peace proposals but, Mr. Chamberlain said, he did not know whether that was true or not.
Whatever might be the outcome, however, they were ready to meet it.
"We are not likely to be diverted from the purpose for which we entered this war," the Premier declared.
—Reuter, Secret Session Held by French Chamber M. Daladier May Speak on Hitler-Mussolini Talks Paris, Mar, 19.
The Chamber of Deputies went into a secret session this afternoon to discuss the international situation and repercussions of the Russo-Finnish peace.
The motion that the debate should be held at a secret session was carried without division.
It was expected that M. Edouard Daladier, the Prime Minister, would be in a position to reveal interesting facts about the meeting between Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.