760C.62/883: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:50 p.m.]
318. The British Ambassador succeeded in having an interview with Ciano on Thursday and read to me this morning the report of it which he had sent to London yesterday and which he is showing to no one else. His statement to Ciano was a recital of the British position vis-à-vis Poland and Danzig and a solemn warning of his Government’s preparedness in the event of an aggressive step being taken which involved the independence of Poland. He referred to the wrongful assumption of the Axis press that Great Britain was encouraging Poland in her present position. Ciano remarked that the Poles should be more reasonable and realistic rather than risk the destruction of their country. Loraine replied to the effect that there are some things more precious than peace at any price as Italian history had so often shown. He informed Ciano that his Government stood ready to confer with the Italian Government at any moment that that Government desired to cooperate in the cause of peace. He said he wished me to treat this in absolute confidence.
This oral communication must have impressed Ciano as it impressed me.
The Ambassador mentioned to me the recent visit to London of a group of German military officers who had been shown everything in connection with British preparedness. They admitted their astonishment to British officials and said that Berlin had no conception of its magnitude. They said that the reports of German agents in England with regard to such matters were apt to become buried in Nazi Party headquarters and not reach the general staff.
While it is impossible to obtain any accurate information on day by day developments here my belief is that Ciano had an exceedingly “rough deal” in his contacts in Salzburg but did not convey any [Page 230] approval on the part of Italy of a German move in Danzig. Rather he must have urged caution. Mussolini’s position in this respect is of the highest importance and Hitler may well refrain from any act endangering war without some sort of assurance of Italian cooperation.
Count Csaky, Hungarian Foreign Minister, left Rome this morning it is said for northern Italy and will return here on Monday. His movements indicate his deep concern over the general situation and the importance which he attaches to Mussolini’s intentions.
Ciano has already left for Albania on what has been publicly described as a “tour of inspection” but which leaves one guessing as to its real import. He will probably receive me on his return and should the Department have any suggestions as to how I might at this juncture express our concern I should be grateful for instructions.41
- Marginal notation: “Mr. Welles said that for the moment at least there was nothing that Mr. Phillips could usefully say. P[ierrepont] M[offat].”↩