Undated memorandum entitled "How Strong Is Mussolini?" Source not identified.
| Author(s) | Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960. | en_US |
| Temporal | [1938] | en_US |
| Date Accessioned | 2011-06-15T18:11:00Z | |
| Date Available | 2011-06-15T18:11:00Z | |
| Publication Date | 2011-06-15 | |
| Description | Enclosed with No. 1063. Mussolini's power not so great as it seems to superficial observer; chief among factors he cannot control are the Catholic Church and the Monarchy; at peak of popularity when Addis Ababa was occupied, popularity has waned since; the Italian masses have no clear idea of international situation, but disillusioned after Austrian Anschluss; Abyssinia a Pyrric victory which cost Italians about 2 billion dollars; Italian economy crippled; intervention in Spain cost many Italian lives and has not yet brought victory for Franco; Italy unable to oppose German advance in Central Europe; Fascism aims are (1) annexation of territories geographically a part of Italy, (2) hegemony in the Mediterranean, and (3) formation of colonial empire; Mussolini cannot realize aims without German alliance; has no rivals for personal power in Italy such as Hitler has in Goering, Goebbels, Himmler, and Ribbentrop; leading figures in Italy taken away from limelight; ruling clique composed of two Cianos, daughter of the Duce and her husband, Minister of Foreign Affairs, [Arturo] Bocchini, Chief of Police, [Achille] Storace, Secretary of Fascist Party, [Dino] Alfieri, Propaganda Minister, [Roberto] Garinacci, radical Party member; clique favors closer alliance with Germany, and less tolerance for Church, Jews, and Monarchy; opposition of Church to Fascism increasing; was opposed to Abyssinian war, to intervention in Spain, and to alliance with Germany; Church finds ally in Royal Court, chiefly Crown Prince Umberto; King has long resigned himself to position of phantom ruler; Fascist militia supports Mussolini and the Party; Generals of regular army, with some exceptions, oppose, and are in close contact with Church and Crown; many smaller groups oppose Mussolini and his policies, but not well organized and have no power; if all opposing forces could get together, political situation in Italy ripe for change. | en_US |
| Physical Medium | Typed Document Copy, 19 p. | en_US |
| Collection | MSS 109 | en_US |
| Other Identifier | 1064-00 | en_US |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/7042 | |
| Language | en_US | en_US |
| Publisher | University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press | en_US |
| Keywords | Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960. | en_US |
| Title | Undated memorandum entitled "How Strong Is Mussolini?" Source not identified. | en_US |
| Type | Other | en_US |
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