CIANO DIARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25289, 24 August 1945, Page 5

CIANO DIARY

GERMAN BLOW IN WEST ITALY DECLARES WAR FEAR OF NAZI STRENGTH 111. Hitler summoned Mussolini to the Brenner Pnss in March, 1940. Then, while the Italians were expecting soma .new German move in the Balkans, the Fuehrer launched his armies against Denmark and Norway, Count Ciano, Mussolini's son-in-law, records in his diary. Chum's account is the first available eyewitness story of one of these famous dictators' sessions which always left Mussolini depressed because Hitler did all the talking. He wrote: "It is snowing at Brenner Pass. Mussolini is waiting for the guest with n sense of anxious pleasure. More and more recently lie. has felt a fascination for the Fuehrer. . . "He tells me that he had a dream during the night 'that tore the veil from the future,' but he does not say what it was. This has happened on other occasions, he says. Once he dreamed of fording a stream and woke to learn the Finnic question was about to be solved. Listening Irked Mussolini "The Hitler meeting is cordial on both sides. The conference is more a monologue than anything else. Hitler speaks all the time, with more calm than usual. Mussolini listens with interest and delerencp. He speaks little and confirms his decision to move with Germany. "At heart Mussolini resented the fact that Hitler did all the talking. He wanted to tell him many things, but had to remain quiet most of the time. As a dictator, or rather the dean of dictators, he is not in the habit of tliij, "He is also indignant with Sumner Welles (United States Under-Secretary of State) because lie told Chamberlain that II Duce appeared tired and perturbed. "We learned this from onp of the usual telegrams shown us by the British Embassy. "For the 'nth time he is irritated with Catholicism, which hp blames for having made Italy universal and preventing it, from becoming national." At 6..'50 a.m. the German Ambassador arrived, pale and tired, and communicated Hitler's decision to occupy Den- j mark and Norway, adding that the decision was already being executed. Notes Ciano: "Mussolini said: 'I approve Hitler's action wholeheartedly. This is the way to win wars. J shall give orders to the press and to the Italian people to applaud the German action wholeheartedly.' As a result of the German more into Norway moving the centre of European operations north, the date for Italy s entry into the war was changed to the spring of 1041. Early Morning News Reichsmarshal Goering was still sulking because Ribbentrop and not he had received the ornate Collar of Annunziata (Italy's highest decoration). "I spoke of it to II Duce," wrote Ciano. "We must not make the voluminous half-dictator of the Reich suffer longer. Mussolini authorised me to write a letter to the King relating the pitiful situation of the tender Hermann. "The Pope addressed a letter to II Duce, in which he praises efforts for peace and prays that Italy will stay out of the conflict. Mussolini's reaction was sceptical, cold and sarcastic;" Then name events leading to Italy's "stab in the back." On May 10 Ciano wrote: "This is for history: 1 had a bad meal at the German Embassy yesterday. . . When we left at 12.2."i von Mackensen (Nazi Ambassador) said he might have to disturb me during the night. At 4 a.m. he called to say that within three-quarters of an hour he would see me and together we would go to II Duce as he had orders to confer with him exactly at 5 a.m. He would say nothing about the reasons. ..' (Without warning, Germany invaded Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg at 5.30 a.m. on May 10, 1910.) ' We found II Duce calm and smiling. He read Hitler's note listing the reasons for action and concluded with an invitation to Mussolini to make the decisions he must now consider necessary for the future of his country. . . ." Choosing a Lucky Day Italian intervention was assured. Ciano's account makes plain. He and 11 Duce were concerned more with reducing to writing the Nazis' promises of Italy's post-war booty. Three appeals from President Roosevelt were brushed aside, and a proposal from French Foreign Minister Daladier was ignored contemptuously. On May 29 Ciano wrote: "At 11 today, in Palazzo Yenezia, the Supreme Command had its birth. Rarely have 1 seen Mussolini so happy. He has realised his dream to become the military chieftain of his country at war. . . The decision is about to be made. Any day may he chosen after June 5. . . '"'The war must be brief. Not more than two or three months, according to Favngrossa (Under-Secretary of State for War Production). . . . We literally are unsupplied with some metals. On the eve or war we have only 100 tons of nickel."

Next day there was this entry: "The die is cast." Mussolini gave me his letter to Hitler today about our entrance into the war. The date chosen is June 5. "Mackensen brings Hitler's written reply to II Duce . . . He asks that the date be changed by a few days because shortly he proposes a decisive attack against French airfields. He fears Italian action might cause a reshuffling of French air forces, interfering with the German plan of destruction. II Duce agrees in principle ... he prefers the 11th, 'a fatal day for me. "Mussolini says the King, too, finds the date satisfactory, perhaps because of the slight delay, perhaps because of his birthday (November 11), and perhaps because as a recruit he was assigned No. 1111." Frenchman's True Warning Three days later Mussolini was furious with tiie King. Explains Ciano: "His Majesty has written that he assumes command, entrusting at the same time to Mussolini the political and military conduct of the war." But 11 Duce was happy about one thing— French resistance to the Germans invading their homeland. "The Germans at last are being weakened and will not reach the end of the war too fresh and too strong." On June 10 Mussolini struck. Cinno's entry for that day reads: "Declaration of war. 1 received Poncet (French Ambassador) first. He tried not to betray liis emotion. After listening to the declaration, he replied: "It is a daggerblow struck at a fallen man. " 'The Germans are hard masters,' he added. 'You will become aware of it,' I did not answer. This did not seem the time for debate. 'Don't get yourself killed,' he concluded, pointing to my air force uniform, and he clasped my hand. "Sir Percy I,online was more laconic and inscrutable. He received my communication without batting an eye. . . "Mussolini speaks from the balcony of the Palazzo Venezin. The news of the war does not surprise anyone, and does not arouse very much enthusiasm. I am sad. very sad. . . May God help Italy! (To hp continued.) (All rights reserved.) BETTER RICE FOR BURMA The Japanese failed to make one small hut important capture when they invaded Burma in 1942. From an experimental station highly-developed rice seeds were flown to India, where the stock was increased. This year 20 tons of the seed were flown back to Arakan. and it is expected that, next year there will be enough to plant 30,000 acres of paddy.