462.00 R 29/650½
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Fletcher) of a Conversation between the Secretary of State and the Italian Ambassador (Ricci), April 26, 1921
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The Secretary then informed the Ambassador that he had a memorandum on the German reparations proposals which we would communicate to him informally. After reading part of same the [Page 51] Ambassador asked if he might have a copy. The Secretary informed him that he might keep the copy which he had, on the understanding that it was in no way a communication from this Government, but merely for his personal information; that the United States only wished to be helpful to the Allies in this matter; that he would be glad to hear from the Italian Government whether after studying these proposals they cared to have them communicated officially; that if they did not so care, the matter would be dropped.
The Ambassador said that he understood perfectly that he was receiving the information in a purely personal, unofficial way.