Office of the Historian

793.003/77

The Italian Embassy to the Department of State56

undated

The Italian Government has not yet received the text of the American Aide-Memoire concerning the revision of treaties with China. The Government is willing, however, to remain in contact with the American Government and to an exchange of views concerning a settlement of the relations with China on new and practical basis.

It seems that the abolition of extra-territorial rights, when becoming effective must be accompanied by some guarantees, in particular judicial guarantees (in order to avoid the effects of the sudden passage from the old to the new system and in order to protect the interests of the powers which enjoyed the extra-territorial rights).

The Italian Government thinks that this end can be more effectively reached if the States which are parts of the Washington Agreements will exchange in advance their views and come to an understanding.

The Italian Government will answer to the American Aide-Memoire later and with more details.

  1. This paper is undated; an attached memorandum, dated Dec. 4, 1928, from the Assistant to the Secretary of State (Beck) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Johnson) reads: “The Secretary asked me to send the attached to you with the statement that it was left the other day by the Italian Ambassador. WHB”↩