765.84/725: Telegram
The Chargé in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 2—5:35 p.m.]
428. My 418, July 30, 6 p.m.45 The British Ambassador46 in discussing today the present Council meeting at Geneva said that he personally regarded as very remote the possibility that definite progress would be made towards a peaceful solution of the Italo-Abyssinian conflict and that he did not believe that the chances of success would be any greater if a conference should be arranged between England, France and Italy. He said that Mussolini’s position had become fairly well defined, that his main objectives were to obtain territory for expansion and military security for Italy in East Africa and to that end he would be satisfied with nothing short of some form of actual control over Abyssinia. In fact the possibility of according Italy extensive economic advantages in Ethiopia had been thoroughly explored but although suggestions along this line had been presented to the Duce he had definitely rejected them as entirely inadequate. The Negus on the other hand had developed so strong an attitude of hostility against the Italians that he would rather fight than make concessions which would satisfy Italy, and Mussolini’s demands were such that it would be impossible for the powers in general and England in particular to prevail upon the Emperor to accept them. The members of the Foreign Office here, the Ambassador agreed, were exerting every effort to further negotiations through diplomatic channels and although they were fully aware of the importance of the present proceedings in Geneva they looked to the Council meeting of August 25th as marking the crisis which would determine the success or failure of those efforts. Furthermore, it was highly probable he said that the Italians were in the meanwhile exerting themselves with a view to precipitating some turn of events in the internal affairs of Ethiopia itself which would favor the realization of their aims without a military offensive. The main consideration, however, the Ambassador said was that in so far as he could judge the Duce was maintaining the attitude of firm intent and that the considerations both internal and external which could reasonably be expected to influence his policy had apparently not weakened in any way his determination to carry out his aims against Abyssinia. Even a declaration of war he felt might occur for although the Italians professed that such a course was contrary to their wishes it might be necessary in order to prevent aid to the Negus from without by establishing a status of belligerency.