There were, I added, other bright spots in the otherwise
gloomy landscape. In the first place France had suddenly regained her position as a vital factor in the European balance of power. They agreed that France's recovery had in fact been astonishing. Concurrently, I suggested, Italy was becoming weaker every day. This was the only point upon which my three friends showed a divergence of opinion. The Italian stated that there were only three people in Italy who were in favour of the Axis, namely, Signor Mussolini, his daughter and his son-in-law. It was possible that if we launched a tremendous propaganda offensive against the Fascist system we might still detach Italy from the Reich. The German and the Austrian did not agree with this optimistic belief. " The Nazis," said the German, " have already taken control of the Italian machine." My Austrian friend defined the situation in even harsher terms. " Italy," he said, " is resuming her historic role of a vassal State."
Previous page
