700.00116/226
The Ambassador in Italy (
Fletcher
) to the Secretary of State
Rome
,
January 31,
1925.
[Received February 17.]
No. 313
Sir: With reference to the Department’s
telegraphic instruction No. 4, January 10, 3 p.m.,78
and confirming the Embassy’s telegrams [Page 98] No. 14, January 22, 6 p.m., and No. 22, January 30,
5 p.m.,79 with regard
to the codification of Rules for the Control of Radio in Time of War,
and also a set of Rules for Aerial Warfare, I have the honor to inform
the Department that after repeated efforts on the part of the Embassy to
obtain a definite statement from the Foreign Office in regard to the
decision of the Italian Government concerning this question, I received
on January 30th last a reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
which was summarized in my telegram No. 22, above referred to.
The Department will note from the enclosed translation of the Note from
the Foreign Office that while the Italian Government accedes to the
principles involved in the Conventions proposed, it feels that in view
of recent developments in radio and aerial navigation, and the progress
made in juridical matters, it would be advisable to consider the review
and expansion of the Conventions. The Note also suggests the extension
of the provisions in the first Convention regarding the control of radio
to include radiotelephonic communication, which the Italian Government
feels has today assumed a position of particular importance.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
(
Mussolini
) to the American
Ambassador (
Fletcher
)
[
Rome
,]
January 29,
1925.
203510/12
Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to refer
to the Note of Your Excellency dated January 12, 1925, No. 8.
The proposals which, form the subject of the two Hague Conventions of
February, 1923, upon the control of radio during war, and upon the
rules for Aerial Warfare, have been examined minutely by the Italian
Government, through its various technical departments.
The Royal Government is always favorable to any humanitarian movement
tending to the bringing about of accords and acts which regulate the
various forms of warfare.
As regards the principles involved, therefore, the Royal Italian
Government would have no difficulty in acceding to the rules
established in the Conventions referred to.
However, in view of recent developments both in radio and in aerial
navigation, and because of the progress likewise made in juridical
[Page 99] matters, the Royal
Italian Government thinks that it would be useful to review and
complete the plans for conventions prepared at The Hague.
It might also be wise if, in connection with the control of the use
of radio, there be included in the first of the conventions in
question an apposite clause extending its provisions to include
radiotelephonic communication, which has today assumed, as you are
aware, a particular importance.
Accept [etc.]
