ADSS 1.31 William Godfrey to Maglione: UK doubts about peace conference

ADSS 1.30 William Godfrey, Ap Del UK, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State.

Reference: Telegram 5 (AES 2758/39)

Location and date: London, 06.05.1939

Summary statement: UK not convinced a conference would work; suggests bilateral talks.

Language: Italian

Text:

I met with Lord Halifax (1) who told me that the British Government thinks that:

1. Hitler does not like the idea of a Conference at which there would be two against three;

2. Hitler prefers a bilateral discussion instead of a Conference of five nations.

The Foreign Minister suggests that His Holiness could offer his assistance separately to Germany and Poland, to Italy and France; only this could the initiative be successful.

Notes: 

(1) See Halifax’s communication to Osborne on 05.05.1939 in DBFP, Series 3, Volume 5, n380, pp435-36; n385, pp 439-40.