765.84/963: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 28—2:05 p.m.]
411. The Foreign Secretary sent for me this afternoon and expressed appreciation for the information contained in 219 [519], August 24, 5 p.m. from Rome, which he said confirmed the statements Mussolini made to Eden and to Laval. Since the Italians as well as the Abyssinians would present a case before the League, these would have to be evaluated, which might occupy some time, and of course no question of sanctions would arise until an act of aggression had been undertaken. Sir Samuel said that he did not favor a policy envisaging ultimate sanctions at once but was more in favor of the 1921 resolutions of the League67 for the gradual use of sanctions against an aggressor. However, as to economic sanctions the British Government would not favor their employment until it knew the attitude of neutral countries not members of the League, and certainly until it was satisfied beforehand that the employment of economic sanctions would not conflict with United States policy. The Foreign Secretary felt that the question of application of sanctions might not arise until about the end of September, and that at that time there might well be addressed to League members, and/or signatories of the Pact of Paris, inquiries as to their position in such an eventuality.
The Foreign Secretary had no suggestions to make in the matter beyond advising me, for your information, that that is the trend of events as he foresaw them. He was definite in the opinion that the minute an act of aggression was committed there must be an instantaneous world reaction, particularly since he felt today that the [Page 640] Italian people were not aware of the world’s attitude toward Mussolini’s policy. The Foreign Secretary felt that the Italian temperament was such that they might undertake the campaign with considerable vigor in the belief of a quick and decisive success, but when they realize an early victory did not necessarily mean the conquest of Abyssinia, the Italian spirit, in his interpretation, would go through successive waves of despondency.
Sir Samuel said he would see me again before leaving for Geneva to keep me fully informed of British policy toward coming events.
- See League of Nations, Official Journal, Special Supplement No. 6 (Geneva 1921), p. 24.↩