Aug. 12, If, as it-is reported from Rome, a con~ ference of eight European nations aimed at solidifying the Axis in Europe against Great Britain is Indeed held it need provide no cause for misgiving. It is said that within the next fortnight representatives of Italy, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Finland, Slovakia' and Croatia' will meet for the pur-Pose of discussing the pooling of armies, foodstuffs and other sinews of war of those countries for the construction of a comprehensive war machine against the event of the bh United States becoming involved in the con= flict. "It should be an interesting meeting those present consisting of seven yes-men and a representative of the German dictator. Consider the position of Italy. Overrun by the Nazis, with a Government which dare,° not call its soul its own, is it to be believed for one moment that the Italian representative would do more than feebly acquiesce in \Ut whatever proposals the Germans cared to put forward? Does not the same question appl; to Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Croatia?
Everyone of those countries, apparently possessing some form of autonomy though: in fact having none; would at such a cot ference be wholly ullable to oppose German views, or, if they dared, able to make that position effective." Their Governments may have some show of domestic authority but even that is closely controlled by the Ge ins themselves. It s reported that.this proposed conference would be the first step tz, towards the construction of the foundation of the new Axis order in Europe in which 2
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.