765.84/4096: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 14—2:55 p.m.]
201. In an informal conversation today a Foreign Office official admitted that the Cabinet is now satisfied that economic sanctions are ineffective towards terminating the conflict and he volunteered the opinion that any further British proposals for such sanctions would be made solely with a view to meeting British public opinion and in general confirmed Geneva’s 105, April 9, 5 p.m.18 While he is not hopeful that the Italian representative will be conciliatory, he understands that Mussolini is very anxious for a settlement which will be accepted by the Italian people as a “great victory” before the beginning of the big rains in May or June. He understands that Mussolini is increasingly apprehensive that Austria may be the next Nazi objective and therefore wishes to be in a position for early termination of the African campaign. He also understands that the French are strongly urging in Rome this view of Nazi objectives in Austria.
- Not printed.↩