765.84/3632: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Long) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 5—2:45 p.m.]
46. In conversation with Mr. Suvich this afternoon he was very calm and placid in his outlook upon the international situation. He said [Page 105] that it had not changed in any respect from his point of view, that there was no compromise proposal in view and apparently no basis for any proposal. He said he thought that while the situation had elements of danger, there was nothing very alarming but that it would drift along in this way for a while and that the countries’ representatives at Geneva would eventually get tired of the sanction program and the great deal of inconvenience that was being caused by it and that eventually there would be a proposal made which would be more in conformity with the facts and that there could be an eventual peaceful settlement which would not involve Europe.
While he would not admit any immediate danger or any special element of danger, nevertheless he confessed that the situation was bad. And in spite of his denials, I thought I detected in his demeanor and conversation a note of discouragement. It was not in anything he said but in his rather subdued point of view and manner of expression.