852.00/2525: Telegram
The Chargé in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 11—1 p.m.]
327. My 320, August 8, 1 p.m., first paragraph. I understand that the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs communicated to the French Ambassador here the views of the Italian Government on the formula for the declaration of non-intervention in Spain as submitted by the French Government. The Italian Government, I am informed, accepted the formula as to non-intervention and as to the agreement not to supply arms, munitions and war material to the contending parties in Spain which the French proposal is said to contain but proposed to extend that prohibition to include the collection of funds for transfer to Spain and the enlistment of volunteers on the territories of the Governments joining in the declaration. The Italians proposed also that, instead of the agreement to exchange information on the measures adopted by each country to carry out the provisions of the declaration which the French are said to have recommended, a system should be set up to supervise or control the effective operation and application of those provisions.
The Italian authorities have so far made no announcement on the foregoing and have replied to inquiries with the statement that the matter is in the course of negotiation.
The Italian press publishes today reports from abroad to the effect that the French proposal of non-intervention in Spain may be submitted to the United States Government together with references from foreign newspapers to the difficulties which would confront the American Government in enforcing the terms of the proposed declaration of non-intervention.