863.00/1509: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 16—5:12 p.m.]
67. My March 13, 11 a.m.80 In his speech before the Chamber of Deputies this afternoon Mussolini reviewed the recent history of Austro-Italian relations stating that the policy of the Rome protocols had been altered by changed conditions in Europe, by the attitude of the sanctionist powers which had tried to strangle Italy and by creation of the Rome-Berlin Axis. He explained that he had counselled Austria to make terms with Germany and in April 1937 had told Schuschnigg that the independence of Austria was a matter which concerned Austria primarily and that the Rome-Berlin Axis was the fundamental base of Italian policy. With regard to the plebiscite decreed by Schuschnigg the Duce said that when he learned of it on March 7 he had counselled against it.
To those who had asked why Italy had not intervened to save Austria Mussolini replied that Italy had never assumed any written or verbal pledge to protect Austrian independence and that the Austrians themselves would have been the first to resist any such intervention since recent events had shown that the majority of Austrians were in favor of the Anschluss, adding that it was better to accept rather than oppose an inevitable historic development.
With reference to any possible menace implied by the presence of Germany on Italy’s frontier Mussolini stated that Hitler’s assurances [Page 451] on this point had been categorical and that moreover Italy’s frontiers were sacred and would be defended. He said that in German eyes also the Austrian crisis had been a test of the Rome–Berlin Axis and that both countries now know that it was not a diplomatic construction only for ordinary times but a solid base for their relations founded on similar ideology and manner of life. He concluded that the two could now march together side by side to bring about peaceful collaboration among all peoples.
While it seems apparent that the speech was intended in the first instance to reassure public opinion in Italy and to answer local criticism which in many circles has manifested the fear that Italy now plays a secondary role in the Rome–Berlin partnership, the Duce apparently attempted also to reaffirm the solidarity of the Rome–Berlin Axis and to demonstrate that although Italy may have had little to say in the development of recent events, its acceptance of an inevitable development has not weakened its position and that its fundamental policy continues to be based upon the association with Germany.
His reference to the inviolability of Italian frontiers may also be deemed to constitute an answer to those critics in Italy and abroad who infer that among the next German moves will be infiltration among the German-speaking populations of the Tyrol.
- Not printed.↩