starting right now, to discourage the German people
from revisionist thoughts in regard to Alto Adige.
. To argue that our reparations obligations to-
ward Italy as imposed by the Versailles Treaty must be
properly fulfilled.
. To instigate an immediate campaign in the press
at our disposal for a rapprochement between Ger-
many and Italy...In return for this valuable real estate, Göring’s letter politely
asked the dictator to “help out” Hitler by giving certain under-
takings:
. That, in the event that the NSDAP comes to
power in Germany, whether by legal or illegal means,
the Italian government will refrain from putting
military pressure on this new German government
and will not join in if such moves are initiated by
third powers.... The P.N.F. will render prompt aid
to the NSDAP by every means (including press cover-
age, speeches by Members of Parliament, and loans);
. That, with regard to Italy’s guarantee of the
Versailles Treaty (especially toward France)... she
will not set herself up as a champion or defender of
any demands or claims submitted by other states
against the new German government.In the second secret document, which was addressed to the Ital-
ian Fascist party headquarters, Göring asked outright for a con-
fidential loan to keep Hitler’s moribund party alive. “The most
total secrecy will be observed,” he promised. “The agreement will
be known on our side only to the Führer of our movement, to
the trustee assigned by our party, and to the undersigned.”
Göring suggested a loan of two million lire, payable in install-
ments and repayable over five years, with “the entire chattels
and real estate (cash, property, cars, etc.)” of the Nazi party as