800.51 W 89Italy/49: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Fletcher) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:22 p.m.]
134. Italian Foreign Office has announced composition of delegation who will go to Washington in October to discuss debt settlement. It will be composed of Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata, Minister of Finance, who will be chairman of the delegation; Dino Grandi, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Ambassador de Martino; Count Lelio Bonin Longare, formerly Ambassador to France; the Honorable Alberto Pirelli; and the Honorable Mario Alberti.51
The opinion continues to be maintained by the entire press that Italy is not able to pay anything like sums expected from her, and will not undertake to do so; that not only must principal be reduced but interest rate as well; and that rather than assume burden which they cannot carry, they will not make any settlement whatever.
- For negotiations and text of agreement signed Nov. 14, 1925, see Combined Annual Reports of the World War Foreign Debt Commission, pp. 217–241.↩