765.84/684: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—2 p.m.]
342. My 322, July 16, 7 p.m.44 In the course of my conversation with the Foreign Secretary this morning he informed me confidentially, for communication to you, that the British effort at Geneva would be to bring about if possible the appointment of a fifth arbitrator, and, secondly, to attempt to bring about a conference of the French, Italian and British signatories to the 1906 treaty under the aegis of the League. He had some assurances that the French regarded both of these proposals sympathetically and therefore there was some hope that at least there would be delay and some possibility of negotiations in which the British would be willing to cooperate to obtain commercial advantages for Italy in Abyssinia and an extension of Italian right of way into Abyssinian territory, and, if necessary, to Italian economic advisers to Abyssinia, but in no case would the British agree to the destruction of the independence of Abyssinia. The above outline at the present time is only known to the members of the Cabinet here.