500.A15A4 General Committee/815: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy ( Long ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 1—12:05 p.m.]
36. Suvich68 today confirmed the statements of Eden concerning German demands for air force, estimating such a force at approximately 700 which he believes too many.
Suvich said Mussolini made no specific proposals to Eden but did express doubt as to the practicability of the plan Eden was advocating.69 The Italians are willing to accept the general plan but would need exact definition of “effectives”, “control” and other items. Suvich added that the principle back of the Italian position is that if Germany is to have armament it must be less than that of France and less than that of Italy; that if Germany is to have much armament France and Italy must have more than that; in case Germany is to have less then France and Italy can have less but each to have always more than Germany; otherwise it was too dangerous.
Suvich doubts that the present government in France will, or that any similar government there can, agree to any measure of diminution in French armed strength and looks to the Italian plan as the only practical basis for future conversation.
Repeated to London for confidential information of Norman Davis second and third paragraphs only.
Mailed to Paris, Berlin and Geneva.