--8--
 
to the question of Poland. He drew himself up and with much vigor said, "The Polish people have
 
a right to their untrammeled independence and sovereignty, and I will. support them in that
 
endeavor. But that does not mean that Poland should again become a crazy-quilt of diverse
 
nationalities. The poison of Europe during these past twenty years has been the question of
 
minorities. That cardinal error must not be committed again. The real Germans of Danzig, of the
 
Corridor, of Posen should remain in the Reich, but the real Poles should have their
 
free Poland, with access to the sea." I interjected, "How about the real Poles who are now under
 
Russian subjection?,' Mussolini answered that they should emigrate from Russian controlled
 
Poland to the new Polish state just the way in which Germans were emigrating from the Upper
 
Adige back to Germany. "'that other solution is there, "he said, "unless we are all prepared to fight
 
Russia?" In saying this he gave me no impression of being bellicose.
 
          He then stated that I should attribute great importance to Hitler's speech of February 23rd.
 
That speech had been precise: "Vital interests in Central Europe" meant what he had Just
 
indicated, and colonial restoration was the additional factor. Germany, he believed, had every
 
right to such a position in Central Europe, and there could be no lasting peace unless such a
 
solution were found.     
     
     He quickly added, "And when peace negotiations are undertaken, Italy's just claims must
 
be satisfied. I have