British Responses to Italian Non-Belligerence, September 1939–June 1940.

This article examines British perceptions of Italy's non-belligerence and the corresponding political, diplomatic, and military responses from September 1939 to June 1940 during the early phase of the Second World War. It argues that British officials accurately understood Benito Mussolini's intention to join the war on Germany's side but correctly assessed that Italy's entry depended on the outcome of the Western campaign. Consequently, Britain prioritized concentrating forces against Germany rather than opening new fronts against Italy, viewing Italian neutrality as strategically advantageous given Italy's military and economic weaknesses. The article concludes that Britain's decision to avoid early military engagement with Italy reflected a deliberate long-term strategy rather than a failure to recognize Italy's vulnerabilities.