550 E 1/62: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Child) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 2—3:20 a.m.]
30. Italian Government has received from Russia a telegraphic reply to Italy’s announcement of postponement of the Genoa Conference. The reply, signed by Chicherin, accepts postponement but contains extraordinary insolence and abuse of purposes and policies of so-called capitalistic nations, especially Italy. Text has not been published but personnel of Foreign Office considers Russian reply an attempt to make a large gesture of political importance to hide economic desperation. Something may be forecast of Russia’s attitude at the conference.