Assessing the Duce
From Brigadier A.L. Mallinson Sir: Professor Charmley, in his review of Nicholas Farrell's Mussolini (Books, 28 June), refers to the author's claim that Anthony Eden et al. were so anti the Duce that they virtually drove him into the arms of Hitler. Richard Lamb, in Mussolini and the British (John Murray), made something of the same accusation, although he suggested that Eden, in his visceral distaste for Mussolini, went against the advice of his FO officials, who thought, as Farrell, that Mussolini was manageable.
It is perhaps interesting that at the beginning of 1939 the FO asked this embassy two questions: if it comes to war in Europe, will Italy fight: and, if 'yes', on whose side? The ambassador's answer was 'no'. I am still trying to find out what my predecessor at the time, Lieutenant-General Burrows, thought.
Allan Mallinson
Defence and military attache. Rome, Italy
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