August 18. - A conversation with the Duce in the morning; his usual shifting feelings. He still thinks it possible that the democracies will not march and that Germany might do good business cheaply, from which business he does not want to be excluded. Then, too, he fears Hitler’s rage. He believes that a denunciation of the pact or something like it might induce Hitler to abandon the Polish question in order to square accounts with Italy. All this makes him nervous and disturbed.
William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
Developments in Europe – 1
Issue Held Grave – 1-3
Britain Rules Out a 4-Power Parley - 4
Germans Prepare in Czech Regions – 5-6
Talks of 3 Staffs in Russia Cordial – 6-7
The Same Old Tactics (Editorial) – 8*
*Having found the courage to contemplate Westminster in ruins and Notre Dame demolished, the British and the French seem to be ready to test out Hitler’s real intentions and await his answer to the question whether Danzig is worth a war.
Nazi-Soviet pact talks update at reply #2.
Ciano diary update at reply #3.