16 Sep 1935 - Federal Political Department, Bern

[Diarist]

At 11:00 am Giuseppe Motta, the head of the Federal Political Department in Bern, welcomed the Foreign Ministers from Britain and France. Anthony Eden and Pierre Flandin thanked Motta for his peace initiative and conveyed their desire to end the conflict as soon as possible. They discussed their conversations with leaders in SE Europe yesterday and outlined their proposal for a lasting peace in the region.

The Franco-Soviet Mutual Assistance Agreement has been rejected by the National Assembly therefore Germany could no longer state that French were breaching the Locarno Treaties. Italy, of course, could no longer be considered a guarantor but Britain is willing to guarantee the Treaties alone. Both Germany and Italy have been vying for influence and control of Austria but Italy is also here no longer a candidate. Austria is currently under considerable pressure from Germany which is taking advantage of Italy's situation. The Anglo-French proposal is to form a SE European version of the Locarno Treaties with Britain and France as guarantors. The Foreign Ministers from Austria, Greece, Hungary, Rumania and Yugoslavia will be in Bern this afternoon and will present their support for such an agreement. Albania, Bulgaria and Turkey can be invited to join, the latter could also become a guarantor. It is also proposed that Italy become part of the treaty. French forces have effectively captured Torino but are willing to return the city to Italian control as part of a lenient peace treaty and becoming a member of the proposed SE European Treaty. Motta welcomed the proposal and promised Swiss support.

News was now arriving of the turn of events in Rome and the Italian former Foreign Minister Dino Grandi is requesting to meet Giuseppe Motta and his colleagues from Britain and France. They had no objection and were willing to hear what Grandi had to say. Dino Grandi entered the room and after formalities were exchanged he informed the Foreign Ministers that Mussolini has been voted out of office by the Grand Council of Fascism and has been formally dismissed by King Victor Emmanuel III. The King named his son Prince Umberto the provisional head of government and has announced his abdication in favour of his son after a new Prime Minister has been nominated and a cabinet has been formed. He, Grandi, has been authorized to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Britain and France. Motta thanked the Italian and it was Pierre Flandin who informed Grandi that France would accept an immediate ceasefire but Italy must concede defeat and by doing so receive lenient terms of capitulation. Anthony Eden said that Yugoslavia is demanding all territory that Italy received from Austria-Hungary at the end of the Great War as well as Italian territories on the Adriatic coast. No mention was made of the Anglo-French proposal but Eden said that Italian nationals in Africa will be repatriated as soon as possible.

Grandi left to consult with Rome and the 14:00 meeting is being re-scheduled for 16:00 hours which Grandi has been invited to attend.

[Diarist]

After a late lunch Giuseppe met with the seven Foreign Ministers from the proposed SE Europe Treaty and was very encouraged with what he heard. Key to the agreement is that post-conflict, (the current conflict), borders remain inviolate and no treaty member attacks another member. Britain and France will be guarantors. There are draft documents in English and French; translations into the other languages are being prepared.

At 16:00 the Foreign Ministers of the five warring nations were present with Giuseppe Motta as Chair. Each Foreign Minister informed those present of the latest developments; the Italian Dino Grandi was the last. He has been instructed to accept the ceasefire terms outlined earlier this afternoon with the condition that the frontlines remain in place, except for Torino which has concluded a separate surrender, and that Italian nationals in Istria and Zara, (Zadar), be allowed to leave in an orderly fashion. When asked to define 'orderly', Grandi replied that civilians be allowed to leave, if they wish, not thrown out without their possessions. Military personnel will of course have to leave with their families, if applicable. Remember that Italy did not attack any of their nations.

Pierre Flandin from France reminded Grandi that Britain and France have already stated that Italian nationals will be returned as soon as transportation is available and that they have no desire to keep the 500,000 plus POWs for any prolonged period of time. They can return home to help rebuild Italy.

The negotiations continued for almost two hours but in the end a ceasefire agreement was arranged and the Kingdom of Italy formally conceded defeat. The ceasefire would take effect at midnight in all areas where the conflict was still ongoing, mainly in NE Italy. Further talks will continue the next day.