File No. 812.00/1707.
The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.
Upon the request of the French and Italian diplomatic representatives here, and under the instructions of the Department, I have asked the diplomatic representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Spain to come to the embassy to-day for an informal exchange of views on the situation in this city. The consensus of opinion was that action should be taken to protect foreign elements against possible outbreaks of criminal classes here. It was agreed on my suggestion to form a committee representing all colonies to plan a common policy of defense; but it was decided that the representatives of Italy, France, and Spain should first confer with Mr. de la Barra as to the resources of the Government and its disposition to approve joint action by the colonies.