611.6531/130
The Department of State to the Italian Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
The Government of the United States has given earnest attention to the Royal Italian Government’s memorandum of December 13, 1934,3 in which are set forth the views of the Italian Government in respect of proposals made to enter upon trade negotiations between Italy and the United States. These views, in part, are clearly at variance with some of those expressed in this Government’s memorandum of September 29, 1934.4 There, nevertheless, seems to exist a broad basis upon which is found a unanimity of interest and desire on the part of both Governments to explore further into the possibilities of developing to the greatest degree possible the commercial relations between the two countries. It is therefore proposed that negotiations should be entered into, it being understood that neither Government is at this time committed to an acceptance of the views advanced by the other in the recent exchange of aide-mémoires. The Government of the United States believes that negotiations entered upon in a spirit of mutual cooperation will result in an agreement satisfactory to both Governments.
As stated in its memorandum of September 29, 1934, the Government of the United States appreciates and understands the difficulties now confronting the Italian Government in respect of its trade balance with the rest of the world. Realizing these difficulties it will be the intention of the Government of the United States to endeavor in so far as possible to assist in the alleviation of those difficulties. It is hoped that the Italian Government will in a like spirit enter upon these negotiations with a full appreciation of the principles and policies, such as the principle of unconditional most-favored-nation treatment, [Page 518] which underlie and are basic to this Government’s program, and will cooperate in this Government’s effort to play its part in bringing about a correction of the maladjustments to be found in world commercial relations.