765.84/4110: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 16—1:45 p.m.]
120. Consulate’s 116, April 15, 2 p.m.21 first paragraph. An Italian delegate called on a member of the Committee of Thirteen today and disclosed to him the Italian conditions for negotiations which they [Page 122] had stated officially to Madariaga and the Secretary General. He confirmed that Aloisi was not empowered to negotiate but to discuss procedures. The Italian conditions are as follows:
- 1.
- The negotiations must be direct between the two parties and not through the intermediary of the League nor could any representative of the League be present. They must in all respects be bilateral. The two parties would however independently keep the League representatives informed of the proceedings. While the Italians asserted that this arrangement was “without the framework of the League” this is naturally a matter of construction.
- 2.
- The conversations must be outside Geneva. The stated reason for this was to ensure the strictest secrecy which in Geneva the presence of journalists would render difficult. The Italian delegate admitted however that the purpose of this was to emphasize the nonparticipation of the League. The Italians suggested Ouchy.
- 3.
- The question of an armistice could not be discussed at present.
I take this last to mean that the Italians were thus making clear that the negotiations could not be regarded as in progress until the two first conditions outlined above had been agreed to. The Italians stated however that (presumably the position they would take in the negotiations) they were willing immediately to cease hostilities but that due to the status of discipline and difficulties of communication in the Ethiopian forces, Ethiopia must give guarantees. These guarantees were forecast as (a) definitely an Italian control of the railway to Addis Ababa, (b) probably the Italian occupation of Addis Ababa.
- Not printed.↩