701.6593/14a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Long)

84. The first secretary of Italian Embassy called this morning and stated that he was under instruction from his Foreign Office to inform us in confidence that the Italian Government has decided to raise its Legation in Peiping to the grade of Embassy. He said that no reasons or explanation were given. To inquiry whether his Government was informing other governments most concerned, the secretary replied that he assumed so. The Chief of the Far Eastern Division made comment to the effect that the Chinese have frequently requested of various governments this move and governments most concerned have conferred inter se; Italian Embassy here has several times previously discussed such requests with the Department; there has been an informal working understanding among the various foreign offices that if any government seriously contemplated taking this step it would first consult with the others.

Can you inform Department with regard to conclusiveness of the decision reported and reasons, advanced or real, for it.

Hull