[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

“Tell Chamberlain,” said Mussolini to the British Ambassador on July 7, “that if England is ready to fight in defence of Poland, Italy will take up arms with her ally, Germany.” But behind the scenes his attitude was the opposite. He sought at this time no more than to consolidate his interest in the Mediterranean and North Africa, to cull the fruits of his intervention in Spain, and to digest his Albanian conquest. He did not like being dragged into a European war for Germany to conquer Poland. For all his public boastings, he knew the military and political fragility of Italy better than anyone. He was willing to talk about a war in 1942, if Germany would give him the munitions; but in 1939 – no!

Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Also on this post:

Japanese Assail Britain as Enemy - 4
Plea for Boycott is Made by Chiang - 6
Moscow Describes Big Border Victory - 7
Two Years of War in China (Editorial) - 8

Mussolini update at reply #2.