852.00/4547: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 1—6:15 p.m.]
42. My 38, January 30, 1 p.m.33 Count Ciano informed me this afternoon that the latest British note on the Spanish situation contained no new proposals and was rather an acknowledgment of Italy’s note of January 25 than as containing anything new of substance. The British representative on the International Non-intervention Committee [Page 239] had, he said, suggested the date of February 22 for the further consideration of the necessary control measures. The Italian representative had objected to postponing the discussions inasmuch as Italy was ready immediately to deal with these questions. Furthermore, Count Ciano indicated that Italy was ready to go to almost any limits to stop the movement of volunteers into Spain provided the other governments took similar effective steps and as an indication of the spirit in which his Government desired to proceed he mentioned that Italy would accept international supervision of Italian airports.
He referred to the difficulties which had arisen owing to the refusal of Portugal to accept international frontier control and that at the suggestion of the British Government the Italian Government together with the French and German Governments were endeavoring to bring pressure to bear on Portugal to fall into line.
In reply to my inquiry as to General Franco’s present situation Count Ciano said that within a few days he thought there would be a forward and effective movement on Franco’s part though he did not commit himself as to whether this movement would take place in the neighborhood of Madrid or elsewhere. He reiterated his conviction that Franco’s position was highly satisfactory.
- Not printed.↩