PIETRO  PASTORELLI

La Turchia e i tentativi di pace italiani

N. 158

Summary — The article gives the results of the researches made for the preparation of volumes IX and X, ninth series, of the Italian Diplomatic Documents regarding two problems: the possible participation of Turkey in the attempts by Italy to come out from the conflict in the first half of 1943 and the Italian reactions at the looming out, at this time definitive, of the military defeat of Italy after the Anglo-American landing in North Africa in November 1942. On the first problem the conclusions reached by the research are negative as Turkey, notwithstanding the hearsay on the subject, had no part in the Italian peace attempts. On the second, instead, the research has been fruitful. In fact, it has allowed to confirm and point out various elements already known through Italian, American and English sources and to clarify some new ones.

Among the first ones must be pointed out the position of Mussolini who thinks possible a resistance to the Anglo-Americans on condition that against them be utilized all the forces of the Axis, with the closing of the eastern front through a separate peace with Soviet Union. Among the new elements must be remembered what emerges from the Italian Diplomatic Documents as regards the researches with the Allies made by the Duke of Aosta on behalf of the King, by Marshal Badoglio and by the activation of channels of communication with the United States through the Italian Consulates of Geneve and Losanne. Lastly, the article examines the peculiar position of the Under-secretary of the Foreign Office, Bastianini, who was the last to abandon Mussolini and to join the group of those who put him in minority during the meeting of the Gran Consiglio of the 24th July 1943.