Evening star., 1945-06-23

the haunting thought that he m
was divided was always with hin
lowest depth.
Ciano reported:
Aug. l.-"Attolico Ambassador to
Germany continues his favorite
theme =. that a sudden decision
will be made by Hitler by August
Is. :. Either this ambassador has
lost his head. or he sees and knows
something that escapes us. Appear
ances are In favor of the first alter
native. -
Mussolini Uncertain
On Chances Of Victory.
Aug. 2.-"Massimo writes 4 private
letter from which it appears that
he disagrees with the ambassador
(Attolico, about the danger OF an
approaching crisis. Roatta, the
new military attache, informs us
about the concentration of forces on
the Polish border. Who can be
right? -.
Aug. 4.-"The situation seems
blurred to me. am beginning to
consider a meeting with, Ven Rib
bentrop. =
Aug s.-"By following the Ger
mans We shall 60 to war under the
most unfavorable conditions for the
Axis and especially for Italy. Our
gold reserves are reduced almost to
nothing as we'll as our stocks OF
metals. Our economic and military
preparations are far from complete.
I propose to II Duce q meeting with
Won Rihbentrop, -. - during which !
will discuss Mussolini's project for
a world peace conference"
Aug. 81 decide to leave. tomor-
row night for Salghurg II Duce Is
anxious to prove to, the Germans
with documents that war at this
time would be folly. Our prepara-
tions ere not such as to permit us to
be certain of victory. The probabil-
tiles are so per cent. or 50 II Duce
thinks. Within three years the prob
abilities will be so per cent"
Ciano Finds Germans
Insistent on War,
+. Aug. II Cat Sslzburg> Won Rib
bentrop is evasive, whenever / ask
for details about the German pro-
gram. His conscience bothers him
He has lied too many times about
German intentions toward Poland
not to feel uneasy now.
The decision to fight is implac-
able. He rejects any solution which
might give satisfaction to Germany
and avoid the struggle. am certain
that even were the lGermapa given
more than they ask they would at
tack just the same because they are
possessed by the demon of destruc-
ton.
Our conversation becomes very
tense at times. do not hesitate
to express my opinions with brutal
frankness. This does not move
him. am learning how little we
are worth in the opinion of the
Germans.
1.-The atmosphere is cold. Not 4
word Is exchanged during dinner.
Hitler is cordial. but he. too, is
impassive and implacable. He
speaks standing up, in the large
drawing room of his residence,
before a table upon which some
maps are spread. He exhibits 4
profound knowledge of military
dispositions.
HE speaks with calm and is
excited only when he urges us to
give Yugoslavia the final blow as
soon as possible.
Italians Are Betrayed
And Lied to BY Nazis
Il realize Immediately that there
is nothing that can be done. He
has decided to strike, and strike
he will. All of our arguments will
not avail in the least. He repeats
his belief that he can localize the
conflict in Poland, but his convic-
ton that the great war must be
fought while he and II Duce still
are young leads me to believe again
that he acts in bad faith.
$50 far as the Germans are con-
cerned. alliance with us means only
that the enemy will be obliged to
keep number of divisions facing
us, easing the situation on the Ger
man war fronts. -
They care for nothing more. The
fate that might befall us interests
them not In the least.
They know that the decision will
be forced by them rather than by
us. They promise us only 4 beg
|gardly pittance."
Aug. 13-"The second meeting
with Hitler is briefer and more
concise. Even in his gestures the
man reveals his will to imminent
action.
Il return to Rome disguised COM
pletelyr with the Germans, their
leader and their way OF doing
things. They have betrayed US
and lied to us. Now they are drag
ging us into an adventure which
We have not wanted and which
might compromise the. regime ane
1.-THE whole country. The ITALIAN
people will tremble with hoFro,
when they learn of the aggressioF
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