party that is hostile to Fascism is in power in the Ger-
man Reich, the resulting tilt toward France will pro-
duce a lineup hostile to Italy...
So Italy must cast around for what helpers she
can: and what better helper than a National Socialist
Germany under Hitler’s leadership? Just picture the
advantage if a German government voluntarily
crushes any South Tyrolean revisionism and freely
guarantees Italy’s northern frontier!Göring added that he himself was drafting a pamphlet explain-
ing to his party friends why Alsace-Lorraine (both German
provinces that France had annexed), as well as West Prussia and
Danzig (claimed by Poland), were far more important to true
Germans than the South Tyrol and its “tiny towns” of Merano
and Bolzano.
As a quid pro quo, however, he wanted proofs of Italian
sincerity, and these, he told Negrelli, would be:
. the final signing of our agreement;
. payment of finite installments on the loan in
return for which we shall place our [Nazi party] press
at the disposal of your Fascist propaganda; and
. a friendly attitude toward our representatives.By “our representatives” he meant, of course, hotel-owner
Rudolfo Walther in Venice. Göring also asked for the first in-
stallments to be paid up front, before Hitler publicly “sold out”
the South Tyrol. “This,” he reminded Negrelli, “would only cost
you a loan of two millions. In return you receive an invaluable
mouthpiece in our press. Besides, you will get your two millions
back within five years at the most.”
Again there was no response from Rome. In a crusty letter
to Negrelli on September , Göring voiced suspicions that for