693.119/383: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 21—2:40 p.m.]
479. Upon receipt of Department’s telegram no. 237 of December 9, I conferred with British and French Ambassadors. We agreed to wait until Japanese Ambassador had been instructed and present our notes to the Foreign Office separately so as not to cause unnecessary irritation during excited conditions here by using joint pressure. British and French notes are to be presented today or tomorrow. I have seen these notes. The French take a firm attitude and the British note is vigorous. I had the Japanese Ambassador as guest last night. He informed me he would present his note soon but evaded telling me its purport. My note presented today assumes that Italy will use its best efforts to prevent violations by Italy in the future. …