740.0011 European War 1939/6876: Telegram
The Minister in Yugoslavia (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—11:29 a.m.]
548. The Minister of the Court informed me last evening that in the opinion of the Yugoslav General Staff, Mussolini had chosen for his present military adventure the most difficult terrain in Europe and at a most impropitious moment because of snow and rain. In reply to my question as to whether Germany would come to the aid of Italy he said with emphasis “No, Hitler is too wise”. He added that Hitler cannot afford a defeat and that his General Staff is fully aware of the difficulties of a campaign in Greece. He said that the difference between Hitler and Mussolini is that the former is more of a realist.
I asked him in view of his seeming confidence that Germany would not advance in the Balkans how he could explain the adhesion of Hungary and Rumania to the Tripartite Pact and the visit of King Boris to Germany. He showed astonishment at my question saying that of course these moves were for the purpose of intimidating the United States.
As to Bulgaria Antic said that the agitation at the present time for territorial revindication at the expense of Yugoslavia might be understood if Italy were now victorious in Greece; under present conditions such a move is ridiculous.