Ruth Deutschmann

Benjamin Epp

Wien

2008-04-29

Sylvia Manning - Baumgartner

Nicole D´Incecco

1960

I must say that I have a weakness for those fighting on the front. Therefore I have no weakness for those behind the lines, those who give good advice from the café in Innsbruck and send a bit of gunpowder. Others have to take the fall. And then also others have to help out not the ones who thought it all up and didn't consider the consequences. I didn’t find it right, then, to do such things while we were having talks with the Italians. But we can’t say now, if they would have succeeded or not, We don’t know. But I thought, that such activities in the middle of Europe were completely irresponsible. However, I already mentioned. In 1945 I thought we should get involved in South Tyrol. But there is a difference between 1945 and then in the middle of a peaceful Europe. That was a very dangerous thing. So, I wasn’t for it. On top of that, I was then state secretary, in a phase ... how to deal politically with Italy as we had to do, because the powers behind us, wanted a military confrontation. And we are having talks. We will always be the idiots, who are talking and the others are the brave heroes, who are doing that. That can’t work, when we couldn't influence the goings-on at all. So we could only be against what was happening. And we tried to convince all those we could reach not to do it. I mean, the people suffered enormously, and that has to be respected. And they were terribly martyred. This also needs to be said. Only, this isn’t only my opinion but a subjective interpretation. We would have succeeded well also without the bombs. Very slowly, but certainly. In the end only negotiations, led to success. I had one experience which convinced me deeply, later. In 1964 I was ambassador to Greece and Cyprus. Of course, in Cyprus I had to introduce myself officially to the commanderof the Greek-Cypriot national guard, General Grivas among others. That is the pseudo-military there,. General Grivas, who was, so to speak, the hero of the battle against the Brits. However the means they used there ? you had to have seen them. I visited him and then he asked: "Where are you from", and so on. “Yes, I am from Tyrol.“ He replied: Tyrol? That is fantastic. You are at war with Italy. You must conquer these Italians and all support to you. And he says: I have a letter from your friends, They wanted me to lead their rebellion, or advise them. But I am obliged to fight for the holy Hellenic land here in Cypress, I can’t come.“ And he says to me, based on a paper he had in front of him. From a distance I could recognize some signatures. I thought ? well look at that. Later I told these people on the phone, what I thought of them. But it was difficult for me. Should I report this to the ministry or not? I did not. And I think it was better that way, than to cause a new fuss. But you have to come to terms with the fact that you didn’t do it. So ? I think ? this attitude... so I respect those who contributed with their health and their belongings and property and who suffered for years. They really earn respect. Only, I think, we would have managed without that too. But that is my subjective opinion and you can't prove that it would have worked out anyway. There is no way to prove it.