future. He had however indicated immediate aviation
 
activity, including the bombing of British ports, and of
 
inland cities, particularly London. Count Clano said
 
that when asked for this apparent change in tactics with
 
regard to the Western front, Hitler referred to the
 
weather conditions and certain "momentary" obstacles.
 
Count Clano did not specify to me if he knew what the actual 
 
reasons for this change of plans might be. He said
 
that some of the Italian military officers who had accore-
 
panled Mussolini had talked with General Bodenschatz of
 
the German General Staff, and had gained the definite im-
 
pression that the German General Staff  itself was resolute-
 
ly opposed to any military offensive by Germany along her
 
Western frontiers. When I said good bye to him, Count
 
Clano said:
 
     "Please give this message to President Roosevelt.
 
Tell him that I personally have the utmost admiration for
 
him and great confidence in what he himself can do to be
 
of service to the cause of civilization in Europe. Tell
 
him, further, that so long as I remain Foreign Minister,
 
Italy will not enter the war on the side of Germany, and
 
that I will do everything within my power to influence 
 
Mussolini in that same sense, Tell him, finally, that 
 
 
nothing will be more grateful to me than the opportunity.
 
to cooperate in the name of Italy with the United States                                    .
 
in the cause of the reestablishment of that kind of just
 
and durable--peace in which the President believes. 
 
You may add that I believe that Alliances at times are neces-
 
sary in Europe, and that I do not believe that under
 
present conditions peace can be established or maintained
 
in Europe without an equilibrium of force and a balance
 
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