493.11/1679: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 20—11:14 p.m.]
169. Your 59, February 18, 1 p.m. I discussed matter with British Minister and Secretary of Italian Legation this evening informing them confidentially of Department’s views. Lampson has not yet communicated Chinese note to London. He will do so tomorrow with arguments pro and con and recommending against Chinese proposal on the ground that further postponement would be disadvantageous to China as harming projects already planned under British indemnity arrangement. Italian is informing his Minister [of] our attitude and of Lampson’s proposed line. Italian said Ciano43 had originally informed his Government that personally he saw no reason why Italy should not make an affirmative reply to Chinese proposal.
- Count Galeazzo Ciano di Cortellazzo, Italian Minister in China.↩