-16-
from one subject to another. I am trying to be as exact as possible in
relating the topics discussed by the Count and myself.
Count Cieno spoke of the Germans with a deeply-rooted hatred.
We remember his speech of the 16th Dec. 1939, where the hostility of the-
Fascist foreign politics keenly proved to be anti-German. He said, that at
the time the reception i'ooms"0f his Foreign Einistry were thronged with
visitors, but as soon as the rumour was spread of his disagreement with
Mussolini, they were quickly abandoned and the visitors disappeared. I
remarked "If You had gone to the Gernaa Arehussy, You would have found
them there. They only changed waitingrooms." He answered "Yes, that is
probable."
An absurd situation
I asked Count Ciano, if I must consider myself bound to keep secret
what he had confided to me. He hesitated a little before he replied
"Well - it would not hurt them to know my opinion of the Germans, or what
do You say?" He cherished the thought that his anti-German sentiments had,
or would procure him a certain popularity. I was cruel enough-,to tell
him, that he had better tear himself from any illusions of that kind. I
asked him Why don't You ask for Your dismissal?" Once more his face
darkened. He replied "I wanted to do so. Indeed,.I had alreedy decided, if
one can term it so. When we entered the war, You will remember that I
enrolled. My idea was this - as a country engaged in a very serious war
could not get along without a Foreign Minister, I could not just leave
after a week's notice, but they would have to substitute me. In this way,
I would have reached my goal, which was to leave the government
without...