852.00/3804
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Murray)
During a call from the Italian Ambassador on October 30 to discuss another matter, he referred to the present situation in Spain and stated that if he were at this time in the Foreign Office he would advise Mussolini to take all steps that might be necessary in order to prevent a Communist regime being established in Spain or in any portion of Spain, such as in Catalonia.
The Ambassador went on to express at some length his views regarding the danger that Communism constitutes to Western civilization and pointed out that Italy could not tolerate the establishment in Spain of Communism since in that eventuality it would soon spread to France and to the very borders of Fascist Italy. Such a development, the Ambassador stated, would place Italy in grave peril in view of the fact that she is faced on the East by Slav peoples racially affiliated with the Russians and who might in time fall victim to Communism and thus close Italy in on two sides.
I asked the Ambassador whether, in his opinion, as a result of the recent conversations of Count Ciano in Berlin, where a position was taken favoring the Fascist rebels against the Leftist Government, the relations between his Government and the Soviet Government, which during certain recent periods had been rather friendly disposed to each other, might be expected to become embittered. The Ambassador replied that such embitterment would undoubtedly ensue between the two governments but that the Italian Government was fully prepared for such a development.