The Reich Minister for Foreign Affairs called me on the telephone at 2200 hours from the Reich Chancellery and reported as follows:

According to authentic information, the rumors spreading in Rome, by way of the Italian embassy in Berlin, that a relaxation of the situation is to be noted and that conferences are being held. We wanted to state on the contrary, that just the opposite is true and that the situation is getting more serious from hour to hour. "The Armies are marching". It would be good if I would see to it that the rumor mentioned above should not be believed by the Duce and Ciano.

Rome, 27 August 1939.

Mackensen

to the notice of:

1. B. R. [initialed]
2. Military attache [initialed]
3. Naval attache [initialed]
4. Air attache [initialed]
5. to be returned to me. Rome, 27 August 1939. [initialed]