800.51W89 Italy/195: Telegram
The Chargé in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 15—4:20 p.m.]
108. My 105, November 12, noon.11 An official of the Italian Treasury has stated that the Italian Government decided some time ago that it would not pay the December debt installment but would make no declaration to that effect until England and France had done so. He added that now those countries had acted Italy was ready to notify the United States that it could not pay and that it was merely waiting to learn of the reception accorded in the United States to the British and French declarations in order to determine the form which its communication to them would take and the time when that communication should be delivered.
As a result of certain statements which have been volunteered by other officials, however, I have reason to believe that the Foreign Office has not yet definitely decided what action it should take, that it is awaiting the receipt of the texts of the British and French notes which are expected to arrive today or tomorrow, and that in the meantime it is following with the closest attention any indications or pronouncements from the United States which may assist it not only in determining the nature of any proposals it may make to the United States in regard to debt payments but possibly even the actual question of paying or defaulting on the December payment. [Page 782] In short at the present moment there appears to be a state of indecision in certain government circles as to whether Italy should follow England and France in this matter or stand alone on the fulfillment of its obligations.
In connection with the foregoing, I wish to emphasize the fact that the statements outlined above have been entirely unsolicited, that I have never broached the subject of debt payments and that any remarks which I may have been called upon to make have been confined to general references to the obligations under the debt agreements and the moratorium.
- Not printed.↩