[Homer_J_Simpson]

The possibilities of weaning Italy from the Axis, which had loomed so large in British official calculations, were . . . vanishing. On March 26 Mussolini made a violent speech asserting Italian claims against France in the Mediterranean. Secretly he was planning for the extension of Italian influence in the Balkans and the Adriatic, to balance the German advance in Central Europe. His plans for invading Albania were now ready.

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

3/26/39 update at #8.

[BroJoeK]

quoting Churchill: "The possibilities of weaning Italy from the Axis, which had loomed so large in British official calculations, were . . . vanishing. On March 26 Mussolini made a violent speech asserting Italian claims against France in the Mediterranean. Secretly he was planning for the extension of Italian influence in the Balkans and the Adriatic, to balance the German advance in Central Europe. His plans for invading Albania were now ready."

Our "paleo-cons," like Pat Buchanan, claim that WWII might have been prevented had the Brits just held onto their old WWI alliances with Italy and Japan. Instead, largely under American influences, Britain let go of both those alliances, which Hitler was only too happy to step into.

The problem with Buchanan's argument is that Mussolini's price for keeping his alliance with Britain was well known, and was unacceptable. The Brits must agree to let Mussolini begin work on reconstructing the old Roman Empire! Obvious to the Brits at least: that just could not happen.

For one thing, if you first agree to let Mussolini have, say, Ethiopia, then how can you "just say no" when he next wants Albania? Further, if you let Mussolini run-amuck in the Mediterranean, then how do you tell Hitler he can't do the same in Eastern Europe?

Buchanan's point is that more clever diplomacy could have prevented the World War. Well duh! But it wasn't their lack of cleverness which deceived Hitler into believing Germany could defeat the rest of the world combined -- rather it was the West's obvious unwillingness to use military force, even when a small force could have made a big difference.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

His [Mussolini] plans for invading Albania were now ready.

April 7, 1939 he invades. King Zog flees for England.