-ll-
 
and the reconstitution of a completely independent Poland, Germany retaining Danzig, the 
 
Corridor and the territory in Western Poland occupied by German minorities, and Russia
 
retaining eastern Poland, removing there from the truly Polish inhabitants to the new Polish state, 
 
which would be given access to the sea. German peace terms at that time likewise comprehended 
 
the return of her former colonial possessions or their equivalent.
 
     Whether Germany still maintained this position, Count Ciano was not sure.  Throughout 
 
our conversation Count Ciano made no effort to conceal his dislike and contempt for Ribbentrop
 
or his antagonism towards Hitler. He did not hide his anxiety with regard to Germany and his 
 
apprehension with regard to her military power. At the same time he indicated not the slightest 
 
predilection towards Great Britain or France.
 
     His chief interests at the moment, I would Judge, are to arrest by every means Russian
 
expansion in the Balkans and Near East; to maintain a balance between the Allies and Germany so
 
that Italian neutrality may be preserved and so that when peace negotiations are undertaken,
 
Italian claims may receive preferential consideration;
 
And finally to take every safeguard available to Italy against German domination of Southeastern 
 
Europe.
     
      Our interview took place in a very beautiful hall : of  the Palace, hung with tapestries.
 
The moving-picture 'apparatus had been already installed. As soon as the conversation terminated
 
 the moving-picture men were sent for, and the Minister posed with me for a rather unduly
 
protracted