711.61/366: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Long) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 20—6 p.m.]
132. Department’s circular telegram November 17, 4 p.m.88 I established official relations with the Soviet Ambassador and have just had my first conversation with him. He emphasized two points: (1st), the possibilities for cooperation between the great Governments of England, Russia, Italy and the United States; (2d), the great political advantage accruing to Russia in the Far East as already evidenced by a changing and more conciliatory attitude on the part of Japan. In this connection he said that a Japanese aviator flew well inland along the Manchurian side of the border and up to and then along the Amur River and that that flight had disclosed to the Japanese complete preparation in the line of fortifications on Russian territory along the border. That discovery together with the recognition of the Soviet state by the American Government had caused a change in Japan already evident. In that connection I may add that there has appeared in the Italian press recently a statement to the effect that Japan would consider a non-aggression pact with Russia only after the frontiers had been demilitarized and a wide neutral zone agreed upon. Potemkine89 also said he had called on Suvich90 immediately after learning resumption of relations was imminent and had suggested a favorable treatment by the Italian press with emphasis on the political consequences of recognition.
The Russian Ambassador also told me that Litvinov would probably come directly to Rome sailing from New York the 25th and arriving in Naples the 2nd.
Cipher mailed Geneva.
- See vol. ii, p. 816.↩
- Vladimir Potemkine, Soviet Ambassador to Italy.↩
- Fulvio Suvich, Italian Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩