893.51/2384
The Italian Ambassador (Macchi di Cellere) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary of State: In July 1918, the State Department issued a statement announcing the particulars of a loan to the Chinese Government, which a group of American bankers [Page 475] were then arranging in agreement with the State Department, and in which the hope was expressed that bankers of Great Britain, Japan and France would be associated with the American bankers and that to this end negotiations were in progress between the Government of the United States and the Governments of the named countries.48
It would now appear that these negotiations are being concluded these very days at Washington, and my Government understands that any request for participation in the syndicate which is being formed, is to be addressed to the American Government as the one which took the initiative thereto. It would further appear that participation in this syndicate by a power other than the United States, France England and Japan is to be decided by the syndicate itself as soon as it is formed.
With reference to the premises I beg leave to bring to your notice that the Italian Government is desirous that Italian bankers should participate in Chinese loans equally with the bankers of the above mentioned powers. I express my every confidence that the views of the Italian government in this respect will receive your most favorable consideration, and I shall appreciate it if you will bring this same notice to the attention of the new syndicate for its favorable action.
Accept [etc.]
- For press statement, see telegram of July 30, 1918, to the Chargé in China, Foreign Relations, 1918, p. 182.↩