693.119/306: Telegram
The Chargé in Italy (Jay) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received February 19—8:25 a.m.]
78. Department’s telegram 25, February 16, 3 p.m. received today. Embassy addressed May 25th formal note to Foreign Office giving substance Department’s telegram May 20th and emphasizing necessity for uniformity of action.
Referring to Department’s telegram November 28th, French Embassy has never broached the subject to me although both Embassies in most friendly relations. In view above and also last part Department’s telegram, I have reliable information French Embassy communicated its views to Foreign Office early in December. I have, however, learned from informal conversations at Foreign Office that reason no official reply has been given was owing to absence from Peking of Italian Minister who is alone considered competent to settle this question which, while I understand apparently agreeable in principle to Italian Government, nevertheless required careful protection of Italian interests and that pending arrival of Minister no official reply could be safely made to either the French or our communications.
I called this morning on Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and later on Director General Political Affairs at Foreign Office who [Page 741] informed me that a definite reply is expected momentarily from new Italian Minister, Peking, whose recent arrival there was greatly delayed by his capture on steamer Persia and detention at Fiume by D’Annunzio. Foreign Office promises me a definite official reply very shortly and regrets that owing to resignation of the official in charge of Chinese matters at Foreign Office, no official explanations of delay were furnished Embassy.
Italian Government being so interested in matters nearer home apparently pays little attention to the matter and consequently as in Chinese Siberian [Eastern?] Railway matter I have found it difficult to secure definite action.