740.0011 European War 1939/2362: Telegram

The Minister in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State

70. The Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs1 said to me this morning that his Government is increasingly confident of Italy’s desire to have no war with England, and consequently with Greece, at this time. He said this confidence is based on both the logic of Italy’s position after the recent British naval successes and on the incompleteness of her actual preparations. He explained Italy’s present hostile press campaign and the rumors apparently started by herself regarding her bellicose intentions as owing to her need to keep the Allies impressed with her importance. In regard to Yugoslavia he thought it doubtful whether any attack on her could be made without Allied and even Balkan intervention.

MacVeagh
  1. Nicholas Mavroudis.