765.84/4457

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)

The Chinese Ambassador called, under instructions, to inquire what action this Government proposed to take in reply to the Italian notification of the annexation of Ethiopia.

The Ambassador admitted that the interest of his Government was somewhat academic because of the fact that China had no material interest in Ethiopia; nevertheless, his Government was anxious to ascertain the views of the United States.

I replied that we had not, as yet, reached any decision with respect to this matter; we were still studying all the aspects of it, in Ethiopia itself, as well as the attitudes of other governments which have more immediate responsibilities in that part of the world; the situation was, as he would understand, still in a state of flux; we did not feel that any particular haste was required with regard to our action and that, therefore, we were proceeding to gather together all the information available on the entire subject.

William Phillips