ROME, FEBRUARY 26, 1940
 
Accompanied by the Ambassador and by Count Ciano's chief of cabinet, I called at 5 p.m. on 
 
February 26th at the Palazzo Venezia where I was received by Mussolini.  I entered the Palace by 
 
the side entrance used by the Duce, and going up in a small elevator was escorted through a long 
 
corridor hung with paintings, and filledwith vitrines holding examples of old Italian porcelain,
 
to a hall where Count Ciano was waiting to receive me.  From there we passed to the Hall of the 
 
Grand Fascist Council, which, while on a far smaller scale, and hung in blue instead of red, is 
 
reminiscent of the Hall of the Doges in the Doges' Palace at Venice. At the end of the Hall is a 
 
raised and very large armchair for the Duce, while on a lower level, around a horseshoe table,
 
are other chairs for the members of the Grand Council.  The walls are hung with superb portraits.
 
     After a wait of three minutes, we were summoned to Mussolini's office in the "Sala Hapa 
 
Mondo". The hall, of which so much has been written, is very long, but did not impress me as so 
 
long as usually depicted by newspaper correspondents. There is no furniture except the desk of
 
the Duce at the extreme end, with three chairs placed in front of it for the Ambassador, Count 
 
Ciano, and myself. On the desk was a reading-lamp, which was the sole illumination in the whole 
 
vast room.
 
     The Duce met me very cordially at the door, saying  he was particularly happy to welcome 
 
me, and walked with me the length of the hall to his desk. He greeted the Ambassador