-7-                             
 
                                                            
 
 
presented himself immediately at the Chigi Palace and made  
an official protest. Ciano tried to justify the government, but; Sir Percy   
was not satisfied and insisted that his protest be taken seriously. At   
last Ciano becmae impatient and said: "that it was not the moment to take   
such trifles tragically, when. the air 'buzzed" with matters that were   
much more serious." Sir Percy Lorraine slightly paled at these words, but   
after gaining control of himself, he answered: "well if our fate must be   
decided with the point of the sword, may it, be so, but, remember that G  
reat, Britain is in the habit of winning her wars| " England - at that   
moment was without an army and without weapons, at its side it had a   
 dying ally and it fought for one thing only: "to survive". 
 
                       THE FATAL HOUR                       
 
                                                            
 
 
The fatal hour drew nearr. Mussolini had already decided to   
intervene, but constantly avoided to set the date for his participation in   
the war. At time he seemed inclined to enter the war immediately- and then   
again he would, postpone it another two or three weeks. At last he set the   
date for June 15th. That is, if Hitler would not find it necessary to   
postpone it. But the situation at the French front hastened the course of   
matters and Mussolini, fearing that; he would come too late, once more   
changed his mind and set the date for Italy's entering into the war to   
June 10th. Ciano had instructions to meet with the English and French   
Ambassadors and to read to them Italy's declaration of war. The first to   
arrive at Cnigi Palace was Francois Poncet. Count Ciano received the   
French Ambassador with a depressed look on his face. He said: "Perhaps You   
                      have guessed...