740.0011 European War 1939/6412: Telegram

The Minister in Yugoslavia ( Lane ) to the Secretary of State

491. A high Foreign Office official said to me this morning that Bulgaria will not attack Greece or Yugoslavia as it would not be in Germany’s interest. Bulgaria will follow the bidding of “the masters”. The information received by the Foreign Office is that the invasion of Greece is not popular with Hitler but was necessary to recoup Mussolini’s local prestige which had suffered serious setback because of his failure to bring Spain into the war and to defeat the British Fleet in the Mediterranean. My informant confirmed the impression which we have obtained from numerous sources that the Italian public is apathetic towards the war.

Lane