875.84/85
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Minister of Rumania, during his call, spoke about the Italian and Ethiopian controversy and led up to an inquiry of me as to what and when my Government under the Kellogg Pact might feel constrained to say something or do something with respect to this controversy. I replied that naturally we were keeping informed as to the affair and its developments thus far; that there was nothing further that I could say about the matter at this time; that I was very thankful indeed to the Minister for the very interesting background and other information with which he had so kindly obliged me in our conversation. He then repeated his inquiry in different language, and [Page 772] suggested that he might inquire of his Government whether there were any conditions that might suggest some action by the United States Government. I promptly replied that I would not of course have him do that; that my Government preferred to pursue its present policy and attitude of observer; that if at any time in the future there should be such developments as would call for further discussion or consideration, the same could then be taken up. The Minister stated that the Italian attitude towards the European situation would be more or less affected by the manner and extent of its experience in the present Ethiopian controversy.