500.A15a3/1242: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation on the Preparatory Commission (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 6—10:30 a.m.]
3. Reference is made to my telegram No. 107, November 3, from Rome. This morning I was visited by Massigli. I said to him that I thought that there was obviously a misunderstanding between the French and Italian Governments in regard to the message which was delivered last Friday by the French Ambassador, and I repeated this message as Beaumarchais gave it to me and also as Grandi had repeated it to me. Thereupon I stated that the effect had been most unfortunate but that the Italian Government had nevertheless declared that they desire that direct agreement should be reached or that, if this proves impossible, the proposed program of unilateral declarations should be carried out.
The telegram to Beaumarchais from the Foreign Office in Paris, which contained his instructions for this conversation, was next read to me by Massigli. The telegram, opened by saying that France would gladly resume naval conversations with the Italian Government, but it would be necessary, if any practical result was to be expected, that the conversations be directed to the subject of concrete figures, the question of parity being set aside. The French Government, the message continued, desired to emphasize to him that they wish nothing which could in any way embarrass my mission or which would create anything but a favorable atmosphere for a negotiation. [Page 173] They desired to make things as easy as possible for Italy and to afford a graceful way out for the Italian Government. The matter is being taken up with Rome this morning by Massigli who will no doubt put matters right with the Italian Government.
Repeated to Rome.