| Show Ii k kH H STOR C lETTER ti Hitler Angry at Spain For Shunning War Editors Editor's note This Is another another an an- other in hi a series of exclusive Salt Lake Telegram articles re revealing re the top secret corr correspondence cor cor- r between Hitler and Si Mussolini ROME ROME ROME-AdoU Adolf Hitler's Ideas deas of oC how the war should be run In n the Mediterranean were outlined to Benito Mussolini in detail in the early months of at 1941 Here are arc his proposals contained In a historic letter to il n duce written written written writ writ- ten from hi his Bavarian hideaway Feb 28 1941 Duce Accept first of all my thanks for tor your letter and for tor the memorandum memorandum memo memo- on the parley with Franco Since I myself am waitIng waiting waitIng wait- wait Ing a written message from Generalissimo Generalissimo Gen Gen- Francisco Franco I should like to postpone assuming a definite attitude until I have had a chance to see ee what he has hasto hasto to sayAt sayAt say ay At any rate the short chert meaning of the lengthy Spanish chatter and written explanations is that Spain does not want to and will wUl not enter the fray This is most displeasing because because because be be- cause in this way for tor the moment the possibility of at England in the simplest manner In its Mediterranean Mediterranean positions has been eliminated Cuts Off Oft Opportunity On the other hand the Spanish decision is deplorable also because it deprives us of at the best opportunity opportunity to end once and for all French French p poll political o 1 i t tIc i c a I 1 uncertainty Francos Franco's s declaration that the attack attack attack at at- tack on Gibraltar would have to tobe tobe be 30 carried out by Spanish troops can only be defined as an ingenious exaggeration of the estimated strength and offensive power of the Spanish army With this exception I now see the general situation as appreciably appreciably ap ap- improved 1 I too am of the opinion that the Albanian situation can now be regarded as stabilized 2 North Africa If we have another 15 days at our disposal I I feel certain that any new British British Brit Brit- ish sh attempt to push toward Tripoli is s destined to failI failI fanI fail fan I am very grateful duce for forthe forthe forthe the fact tact that you will place your motorized units in at atthe atthe atthe the disposal of Gen later field marshal Rommel He will not de- de delude delude lude ude your trust and I am convinced convinced convinced con con- vinced that in a brief period of time he will have the loyalty and andI I hope the affection also of your soldiers reInforcement Factor It is for me reason of sincere joy oy that we are also permitted to help you and that we are arc in a position to do so flO I feel that the simple arrival of th the first armored regiment will represent an extraordinary extraordinary extraordinary extra extra- ordinary reinforcement factor in your favor The arrival of the armored di division division dl- dl vision can then be used as all a basis for lor or other considerations which I hope to take up personally with you 3 Greece We Ve are now practically free from the danger of ot otice ice ce in the Danube and this has gIven riven me the opportunity to order that hat bridge construction begin today oday Feb 28 In addition startIng starting start- start Ing ng this morning a certain number number number num num- ber of oC armored units must be en route oute to reinforce the raid defenses cs in m Bulgaria By completing ing ng the dispositions up to the Greek frontier we shall shan have an appreciable relief of pressure on the he Albanian frontier I have one other preoccupation duce duccI uce It concerns your f Islands A great benefit to the conduct of at the Mediterranean air war would derive from holding these nese islands A strong base at Rhodes Rhode could probably definitely bottle ottle up the Suez canal for Eng- Eng England England land and while the loss losa of Rhodes would lengthen considerably the light flight distance to and from the Suez canal However the decisive fact act is that the winter is about over ver and with its passing ends also Iso the paralysis of our operations opera opera- Ions determined by nature Reassures Turkey In conclusion I wish to advise you ou of oC the fact that I am writing a letter to the president of the Turkish State Ismet to tell him lim that the entry of at German troops in Bulgaria is not directed against Turkey but that on the contrary I am convinced that it would be also in the interest of Turkey to establish good relations relation's with us that Germany has hag no territorial territorial ter- ter claims on Bulgaria or Romania Romania Ro- Ro mania and that it will evacuate these thC nations as soon as the Brit- Brit BritIsh British Ish sh danger is banished banished and and the sooner it can be done the better Unless Mr Eden British Foreign Foreign For- For eign Ign Secy Anthony Eden has succeeded succeeded suc- suc in preventing Turkish statesmen and military leaders leaden from rom judging the situation objectIvely objectively ob- ob and considering their own wn interests I do not see here any danger anger either Anyhow regardless regardless regard- regard less ess we are naturally ready for anything and everything Accept duce my most cordial greetings in comradeship Adolf Adol Hitler On March 28 1941 King Victor Emanuel of ot Italy wrote to Musso- Musso ni expressing hopes of a solution solution tion ion of at the crisis in Yugoslavia Rome March 28 1941 Dear Duce I III thank you for the messages you ou kindly communicated to meI meI meI me I want to hope that the new ministers In Belgrade there arc are 22 2 will wUl reflect o on their own situation situation situation sit sit- and that they will become reasonable taking into consideration tion the power of the axis Again a thousand thanks thank with many cordial greetings from Your affectionate cousin Vittorio Emanuele Copyright 1945 1915 King Features Syndicate Reproduction In whole or part prohibited |
