861.77 Chinese Eastern/486: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Garrett) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 28—5:45 p.m.]
88. Your 73, November 26, 2 p.m.28 The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs is in entire sympathy with the action you have suggested and assures me that his Government will join those of the United States and the other powers you mention in carrying it out. A joint note of the five powers would, however, in his opinion, be more effective, and his suggestion is that, following their agreement and in view especially of the fact that the American and British Governments have no diplomatic representatives in the Soviet Union, the French Government should be asked to forward to both China and Russia an identic note in the sense of your paragraph (6). If such joint action for any reason cannot be carried out, he says his Government will act as you suggested in your paragraphs (7) and (10). Until he receives further communications through the American Embassy here, he will keep the whole matter confidential. Query: Is Japan included in the action suggested?