765.84/1205: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Long) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:50 p.m.]
583. I had a long talk this afternoon with Mussolini. His mind is definitely closed to any compromise of any kind which may be made to him from Geneva or elsewhere. He is definitely and irrevocably determined to proceed in Abyssinia with what he insists upon calling a colonial enterprise. He says as soon as it loses its colonial character the European situation becomes involved and that that brings in complications of a widespread nature which he has no desire to see develop. He says that he has no intention of interfering with anybody but proceeding in his own way to correct abuses and to secure rights in colonies and to have room for expansion. He says, however, that if anybody interferes with him he is prepared and that he has an army of a million men in Italy and that he has a competent fleet and an air force with a certain superiority and that he will brook no interference. He is much exercised, I might even say very angry at even the conversation about sanctions and mentioned specifically the action of France in Morocco, the Chaco affair, Germany’s violation of the Treaty of Versailles, the British action 4 years ago in Iraq and Japan’s activities in Manchukuo and China, in none of which cases were sanctions involved. He then said with anger “it is only for me and on account of Italy when we wish to rectify wrongs and to have a legitimate expansion that sanctions are sanctions”, however, he does not think that sanctions will be invoked nor does he believe that any power will interfere with him. At least he said that. He said that he expects to go upon his road unmolested and that he would not interfere with anybody or with the rights of anybody.
One cannot talk with Mussolini under the present circumstances without being fully conscious of the bold determination and the irrevocable nature of the decisions he has already taken. He is calm, his voice modulated, his manner gracious and his friendly attitude toward the United States unmistakable. I have only been confirmed in the understanding which I have had and which I have frequently recorded in my reports to you that he is absolutely and irrevocably determined on his Abyssinan venture which he expects to terminate, as I understood him, by appropriating a large part of the country and establishing a directorate or a military and political control over the rest.
No Missions informed.