the most important. Once more Count Ciano interrupted me  
with the words "Just exactly, so it happened". "Then You  
proposed the agreement to Ribbentrop, and the former seemed  
just as surprised at Your request, as You were, when You  
received the order from Mussolini. He asked You for a  
couple of days time, to be able to get in contact with  
Hitler and to have his instructions. In one way or another  
he had to justify his prolonged stay in Milan, and there-  
fore let himself be, ciceroned around the city- churches  
and monuments for three days "No" corrected Count Ciano -  
"two days - this, being the only mistake made in Your other-  
wise exact version." "But it is of small importance, " I said.  
After two days the instructions came- and the iron-pact wa signed.  Am   
I right? " Very Right" replied Ciano.  " Strange how percisely these  
                     things are known."                     
 
                     MUSSOLINI'S SPEECH                     
 
                                                            
 
 
 After having finished the story of the iron-pact, we turned to   
'other topics. All of a sudden Count Ciano made  
a new inquiry. "What impression did You have of Mussolini's  
speech?" I hesitated. To gain a few moment's time for re-  
flection, I replied "How shall I answer You? As one answers  
an old Cafe friend? 'If I ask, it is because I wish to know  
the truth." "Well", I replied resolutely, "very bad".  "Is it your   
personal impression, or that of all the good people with good sense,   
that I since then have talked to." "And why?" " I could mention a   
hundred reasons.  I will begin with the most insignificant of all, so   
insignificant, that it seems almost reidiculous.  For instance " The   
smoking suit at five" and I will close with the more serious one. the   
                 advice to the  Italian...