500.A15a3/1178: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy ( Garrett ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 24—4:25 p.m.]
98. I am told by the Japanese Chargé here that he saw Grandi yesterday evening, and acting under instruction from his Government asked the Minister whether he had any information regarding a rumor that the French Government intended to announce a capital ship construction program, a rumor which, in the Chargé’s belief, was communicated to the Japanese Government by its Ambassador at Washington following a conference with the Secretary of State on October 15. Grandi told the Japanese Chargé that he had no such information.
The Japanese Chargé then expressed the general interest that his Government felt in the consummation of a French-Italian naval agreement, and more specifically the concern of the Japanese Government that the failure of France and Italy to reach an agreement might lead Great Britain to invoke article 21 of the London Naval Treaty; in which event, the Government of Japan could not remain indifferent.
There was no intimation that the Chargé’s representations were based on anything except the Japanese Government’s own initiative. Grandi accorded a most agreeable reception to what the Chargé said. The Japanese Ambassador in Paris was sent identical instructions; he has notified his Government that he is holding back action on them until he has seen Gibson tomorrow in Paris. Gibson has been informed.