865D.01/218: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 7—4:09 p.m.]
512. The British Ambassador called today evidently for the purpose of asking for information with respect to a change of personnel in Addis Ababa presumably basing his inquiry upon a press report from Washington published here to the effect that Hughes is being transferred to Addis Ababa as Consul General.14 Upon being informed of the Department’s views he proceeded to tell me the situation with regard to British representation there. He said that all the smaller powers in Europe were pressing the British Government to come to some sort of an understanding with Italy concerning Ethiopia in the interests of general European peace and that his Government have now under consideration a change from diplomatic to purely consular representation. In his opinion this might well occur before the end of the present year. He added that discussions were being carried on now between London and Paris with this in view.
Drummond15 said that while any step taken by the British Government would undoubtedly be qualified by a statement that it did not constitute “de jure” recognition it would nevertheless amount to [Page 252] “de facto” recognition. He admitted that he had discussed the matter with Count Ciano and that he had made it very clear that the British decision bore no relations whatsoever to the conversations now being carried on with respect to a Mediterranean accord.16
The Ambassador was hopeful as to the success of these Mediterranean discussions. The accord he thought would be general in nature and would follow the lines of Eden’s speech of November 6th. The only probable addition might be the inclusion of a reference to the desire of both Governments to maintain the status quo in the Mediterranean.