611.6531/335: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—9:15 a.m.]
530. Count Ciano and I have signed a procès verbale bearing the date of December 15, 1936, denouncing the Treaty of Commerce of 1871. The protocol is identical with the text contained in Department’s No. 177 with the addition of the words “done in Rome the 15th December, 1936.”
Department’s 181, December 15, 4 p.m.28 has just been received after arrangements had already been concluded and signature had taken place. The following communiqué was issued to the press this morning by the Foreign Office:
“Several months ago negotiations with the United States of America were begun in Rome for the conclusion of new commerce agreements. The draft is at present in the course of study.
[Page 358]Today at the Palazzo Chigi the Minister of Foreign Affairs Count Galeazzo Ciano and the Ambassador of the United States of America, Mr. William Phillips have signed a protocol denouncing the Treaty of Commerce of 1871 which no longer corresponds to present needs, such denunciation to take effect a year from today.”
- Not printed.↩