611.6531/285
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Culbertson)
Ambassador Rosso came in this noon to say that he had received a telegram from his Government with regard to the proposals made in respect of the denunciation of Articles 6 and 24 of the Treaty of 1871. He then handed Mr. Sayre the attached paper30 which he said was more or less a direct translation of the telegram he had received. Mr. Sayre read this memorandum aloud. After finishing he called particular attention to the next to the last paragraph and said that this was not entirely true because it was very similar to the action which we had taken in the case of Germany.31 The Ambassador pointed out that he understood the initiative in the German treaty had been taken by the Germans, and he was inclined to stress the point that it might appear by taking this action that Italy was being singled out, even though similar situations existed in other countries. It was his feeling that this would come at a very inopportune time, particularly since trade agreement negotiations could be undertaken almost at once, and the difficulties not now covered by the 1871 treaty would be covered by the trade agreement. The Italian Government seems to feel that Articles 6 and 24 are satisfactory and adequate for the long run commercial relations between the two countries, and that the trade agreement could be used to implement the old treaty in such a way as to take care of the unusual and extraordinary difficulties now confronting the Italian Government, which has no desire to discriminate in any way against the United States, but is forced, by reason of circumstances, to adopt a system of restrictions such as it now has in force.
Mr. Sayre stated that he did not feel that the trade agreement would adequately meet some of the very specific provisions now existing in the old treaty, since that treaty makes no provision for the setting up of prohibitions and restrictions; and that it might be embarrassing to the Italian Government were this Government to raise with the [Page 541] Italian Government the applicability of the treaty of 1871 in respect of the methods now used by Italy in the allocation of quotas. Mr. Sayre added that he did not want the Ambassador to assume that we were making any protest at this time against Italian treatment of American commerce, and that we were anxious to go forward with this whole matter in the friendliest possible atmosphere.
Mr. Rosso explained that the telegram which he was now handing over to Mr. Sayre had crossed the one which he had sent following his last conversation with Mr. Sayre.
It was agreed that no further action would be taken for a few days to see whether the Ambassador might receive an answer to his last telegram.