ADSS 1.245 Borgongini Duca to Maglione: Italy will not go to war

ADSS 1.245 Francesco Borgongini Duca (1), Italy, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State

Reference: AES 759/40

Location and date: Rome, 27.01.1940

Summary statement: Italian Foreign Minister, assured the nuncio that Italy will not go to war; various matters.

Language: Italian

Text:

At the end I asked him ex abrupto if the news of a military intervention of Italy next February was true.  The Minister promptly and without thinking about the words replied: “Rest assured Italy will not go to war” and added this reservation: “At least as long as it depends on me …” (2).

Notes: 

(1) Francesco Borgongini Duca (1884-1954), Nuncio to Italy 1929-53.

(2) Galeazzo Ciano (1903-1944), Italian Foreign Minister 1936-43.