ADSS 1.267 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, notes.
Reference:
AES 2494/40
Location
and date: Vatican, 17.03.1940
Summary
statement: Italian ambassador, Dino Alfieri, told Maglione of Mussolini’s planned
meeting with Hitler. Fears that Hitler will try
to draw Italy into the war.
Language:
Italian
Text:
The
Italian Ambassador (1) confirms to me (11.30) the news - given to me yesterday by the British
Minister (2) – of the Mussolini-Hitler meeting on the Brenner Pass (3). The Head of the Italian Government will leave
for the Brenner today at 13.00 together with Minister Ciano and will be back in
Rome tomorrow evening or Tuesday morning.
Hitler
who will insist on the points already put forward by Ribbentrop has requested
the meeting. The latter declared his
complete confidence in Germany’s victory and did not even mention the
possibility of or the wish to start peace negotiations.
It
is believed there that Hitler will try to persuade Italy join the war on
Germany’s side.
It
is also believed that Mussolini would like to maintain his policy of biding his
own time.
Formally,
according to the Ambassador, the relations between the two Governments seem to
have improved: but in fact they have not changed.
During
the conversation I expressed all the reasons, which in my judgement constrain
and compel Italy to remain outside the conflict.
The
Ambassador thinks that these reasons are well founded; but he thinks that, as
time goes buy, it will be extremely difficult for Italy to keep out of the
conflict (4).
Notes:
(1)
Dino Alfieri (1886-1966) Italian Ambassador to the Holy See 1939-40.
(2)
D’Arcy Osborne (1884-1964) British Minister to the Holy See 1936-47.
(3)
Hitler and Mussolini met on 18.03.1940 in a hastily arranged meeting on
Hitler’s train. The consensus was that
Hitler wanted Mussolini’s assurance that Italy would enter the war
eventually. Ciano recorded his
impression of the meeting in his diary.
The Hitler meeting is very
cordial on both sides. The conference …
is more a monologue than anything else.
Hitler talks all the time, but is less agitated than usual. He makes few gestures and speaks in a quiet
tone. He looks physically fit. Mussolini listens to him with interest and
with deference. He speaks little and
confirms his intention to move with Germany.
He reserves to himself only the choice of the right moment … The
conferences with a short meal.
Later Mussolini gives me
his impressions. He did not find in
Hitler that uncompromising attitude which von Ribbentrop had led him to
suspect. Yesterday, as well, von
Ribbentrop only opened his mouth to harp on Hitler’s intransigency. Mussolini believes that Hitler will think
twice before he begins an offensive on land.
See
too Peter Neville (2004), Mussolini, Routledge,
London, pp 158-59.
(4)
See ADSS 1.272, 274, 276
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