Evening star., 1943-10-05
By FILIPPO BOJANO.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (By Wire
less to N.AN.AD.-How did Benito
Mussolini manage to throw Italy into
this disastrous war?
I know because I followed the
tragedy from the beginning. In
those days I was the Berlin corre-
spondent for Mussolini's Popolo
DItalia. which enabled me to watch
from the inside developments lead
ing to the war.
Relations. between Reichsfuehrer
Adolf Hitler and Mussolini never
were very amicable because Of ideo-
logical divergences and because of
some antipathy the Duce had toward
his German opposite number. The
Austrian question also served to di-
vide the two dictators, as we'll as
violent press controversies between
Rome and Berlin involving discus
sionS Of the character of the two
revolutions. the characteristics of the
two nations and the aims of the two
policies.
In those days often visited Mus
solini, finding him red in the face
with anger when he expressed to me
his disdain for the Fuehrer and the
Third Reich Hitler, who also re-
ceived me from time to time, ap-
peared to understand Italy like I
would understand q faraway coun-
try on which I had never set foot.
Suddenly Mussolini changed his
course. Galeazzo Ciano, his young
sonin-law, was appointed Minister
for Foreign Affairs following Ciano's
short visit to London with his eX-
travagant wife. Edds. and after
which he revealed himself violent
Anglophobe. The plot thickened with
the nomination of Bernardo Attolico
aes Ambassador to Berlin. 1t then
became evident that a political en-
tente between Italy and Germany
was in the making
False Reports From Berlin.
Attolico's reports from Berlin gave
false picture of the friendly atti-
tude of the Nazis toward Fascism.
We were in the thick of a war In
Abyssinia. Rome purposely ignored
Nazi press attacks against the 1tal-
ian-Ethiopian campaign, so Italians
thought the Reich attitude WAS
favorable.
Having known Mussolini a num-
Der of years, knew he was hope
less megalomaniac like Hitler. I
knew the NaZi expansion plans were
carefully hidden from England. War
was in the air, and Mussolini enjoyed
this game as much as did Hitler.
The difference between the two
dictators was that Germany had not
lost time to rearm secretly, whereas
Italy was much behind. lacking ade-
quate production of modern arms,
and the nation morally was insuf1-
ciently prepared for war. Mussolini
spoke in grand words. but his elo-
quence was his impotence.
Meanwhile, Dr.. Joseph Goebbels,
who, like almost all Nazi leaders
from Joachim Won Ribbentrop
down, is an italophoe, staged gran
diose receptions for Mussolini's visits
to Berlin.
I tried to warn Mussolini against
being fooled by these displays Of
hospitality and the German armed
forces, but the intrigues of Ciano,
Attolico and gang of political op-
portunists shut the doors of the Pa
lazzo Venezia against me. In this
atmosphere the pact of steel was
born.
Knew Plan to Sack Poland.
In mid-August of 1899, Mussolini
knew that Hitler had decided to in
wade Poland. Until that time Mus
solini had bluffed successfully, but
his generals advised him to abstain
from pushing Italy into war because
of the lack of arms.
On the generals insistence he sent
Ciano posthaste to Salzburg to tell
Won Ribbentrop that Italy could
not jump in with Germany despite
their agreement.
This was secret conference, with
Signor Ansaldo and myself the only
journalists present Ansaldo was
there as Cianos friend and conf
dant. The first conversation lasted
whole afternoon.
ut will only be short war" Won
Ribbentrop said.
What will England and France
say?" countered Ciano.
They are not armed" replied Won
Ribbentrop.
And the rest Of Europe?" queried
Ciano.
They don't count because they