500.A4a/14

Ambassador Ricci, of the Italian Delegation, to the Secretary of State

My Dear Mr. Secretary: As you may be aware, the absence of Italy from the agreement for the Pacific Islands caused in the Italian press and public opinion a certain degree of dissatisfaction which, in its turn, originated widespread polemics.

Such a situation could not be overlooked by the Italian Government which has instructed me to approach Your Excellency on the subject with a view to possibly secure the accession of Italy to the said agreement.

I will, therefore, be much obliged to Your Excellency for fixing an appointment, so that we may together examine the question.

In order that Your Excellency may have previous information of the Italian point of view in the matter, I deem it advisable to outline here below the reasons for which the Italian Government is considering Italy’s participation to the pact.

The present Washington Conference was called for the main purposes of the limitation of armament and the discussion of the Pacific and Far Eastern questions. Now the fact of the exclusion of Italy—which is one of the great Powers invited to Washington—from the agreement which brought about the definition of the Pacific question could be interpreted as a depreciation of its position, the Italian Government wishes to point out that, under certain circumstances, said agreement might trespass the limits of the territories which it contemplates. Consequently, in case of a disagreement with worldwide political repercussions, Italy would be prevented from exercising any preventive conciliatory action in the general interest of peace and for the protection of her particular interests.

Furthermore, it is not to be forgotten that some of the Pacific possessions covered by the recent Washington agreement were assigned to the great powers as a mandate in accordance with article 119 of the Versailles Treaty, whereby “Germany renounces in favor of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers all her rights and titles over her oversea possessions”.

The mandate granted to other powers reasserts Italy’s rights as a mandatory power and consequently Italy’s de jure position in the Pacific remains analogous to the one of the other allied countries.

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In consideration of the points above indicated, I beg Your Excellency to examine the convenience of Italy’s accession to the pact in the modus and form which she would deem the most advisable.

In my Government’s opinion, this could be done in this way: the four signatory powers could communicate officially the text of the agreement to the Government of Italy as “to one of the great allied powers interested in the maintenance of the world’s peace, with the request that Italy adhere to it in order to fully reach the aim which prompted the agreement”.

While I anticipate to Your Excellency my thanks for such action as I trust will be taken in the matter, I beg to remain [etc.]

V. Rolandi Ricci