Wanting to show off to the world and drum up some supporters overseas, Mussolini decides a Regia Marina world tour is in order.
May 1939, the battleship Conte di Cavour along with a Zara-class CA, a Condottieri-class CL and two Navigatori-class destroyers enter the Atlantic Ocean, destined for New York, Argentina, Chile, Japan, Tientsin (Italian concession), Massawa, through Suez (no prohibition yet) and back.
Sept. 1939, the Italians, now in Chile learn of the declaration of war. What do the Italians do now? Italy did not declare war until May 1940, so diplomatically could they simply sail home?