760C.62/906: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 21—7:55 p.m.]
1204. My 1197, August 19, 2 p.m. and 1183, August 17, 10 p.m. Lord Halifax told me this afternoon that Sir Percy Loraine saw Ciano on Saturday and indicated that if Signor Mussolini should make an approach to the Prime Minister for a joint move, the proposal would be received sympathetically. Nothing further has been heard, however, from that end. Lord Halifax said that he is making every possible endeavor to impress on both Mussolini and Hitler exactly where Great Britain stands in the present crisis. On Saturday night he sent through the British Ambassador at Rome a very confidential message to Mussolini, with instructions to the Ambassador to assure himself that the message was conveyed to Mussolini in its entirety. Lord Halifax expressed to Mussolini the extremely grave view which he felt compelled to take of the present situation and, after pointing out that in his opinion there was no reason why the differences between Germany and Poland could not be settled directly between themselves by those countries on a peaceful basis, he said that if a situation should arise in which Poland felt compelled to defend herself by force of arms, the full resources of both Great Britain and France would be behind her. The result could only be a general conflagration of appalling proportions and Signor Mussolini should be under no illusion [Page 231] that in these circumstances the war would be a short one ending merely in the crushing of Poland. He spoke of the old friendship between Great Britain and Italy and said that he felt that he should let Signor Mussolini know exactly where Great Britain stands. He then referred to various reports of a possible international conference and pointed out to Signor Mussolini that Great Britain had no objections in principle to a general conference but that a conference to settle the issue between Germany and Poland could not be thought of without the participation of Poland nor, under present circumstances, without the participation of Russia also. If such a conference could be brought about he suggested that perhaps Signor Mussolini might even have other consultations to suggest. He pointed out, however, that the principal difficulty in arriving at a general settlement would be the lack of any confidence in the faithful fulfillment and implementation of what might be agreed upon and expressed his doubt that at the present moment any useful results could come from a general conference. The message ended with a further reference to the old friendship between Great Britain and Italy and a warning that they would undoubtedly be aligned against each other if a war should break out as a result of German aggression on Poland and Germany were supported by Italy.
Lord Halifax does not know whether this message to the Duce will do any good or not, but it can certainly do no harm and at least it puts clearly to Mussolini exactly what to expect from Great Britain in the event of a German attack on Poland which receives Italian support. Although everything possible has been done to impress on both Hitler and Mussolini Great Britain’s determination to stand by her pledges to Poland, Lord Halifax said that he is not even yet fully convinced that Hitler and his entourage really believe this. He expects to send a further message directly to Hitler in plain terms and somewhat along the line of the one to Mussolini.
As to what exactly Hitler has in mind there is no real indication. The Foreign Office, Lord Halifax said, had just received, however, information from several sources indicating that Hitler will push matters to an issue with Poland sometime between the 24th and 28th of August. He attaches no particular importance to these dates as such, but the information, even though circumstantial, points to Hitler’s having made up his mind for a showdown with Poland even if it means war. He said that he knew it to be a fact that Mussolini is making a very great effort to restrain Hitler from taking any irremediable action and he told me of a report received this morning from the British Ambassador at Rome in which the Ambassador spoke of a meeting he knew to have taken place between the King, Mussolini, Badoglio, Starace and other high Fascists. The King and [Page 232] the Fascist leaders expressed themselves strongly against war, and even Ciano is backing down in the face of a war in which Great Britain would be aligned against Italy.
The opinion of these leaders is reported to be that Italy is neither from a military nor an economic point of view able to go to war and all their influence is being forced in this sense on Mussolini; for a number of reasons this is a complete reversal of their position. Moreover the rank and file of the Fascist Party itself is reported to be against war, not to speak of the widespread unpopularity in Italy generally of the German alliance.
Lord Halifax said that in his personal view there is no question whatever as to where the people of Great Britain now stand. Their mind is made up and if Hitler wants a war he will “damned well have it”; Hitler has simply “got to be stopped”. He told me confidentially that the Prime Minister would probably summon Parliament this week. This action is to be taken not because of any absolute certainty as to war but simply as a matter of political strategy both internally and externally. The Government likewise now has under consideration a message to the Pope which Lord Halifax says will shortly be sent asking His Holiness to hold himself ready for a peace move. Lord Halifax did not go into any detail as to what exactly is contemplated in this communication.