852.00/4871: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 5—9:56 a.m.]
92. The Stampa last night carried the following despatch from Rome:
“Italian political circles are unfavorably impressed by the frequent reports published in the French press itself of continued infractions of the Non-Intervention Agreement of February 20. Should this information be confirmed it is evident that protests are to be expected on the part of those powers who in good faith signed and are respecting the Non-intervention Agreement”.
No sailings from Italy of vessels carrying volunteers have so far been reported since February 20 although rumors persist here to the effect that the Italian nonintervention measures are not being strictly observed and even reports have reached the Embassy of attempts of a very recent date to obtain volunteers for service in Spain. It seems more likely, however, that these reports refer merely to preparations being made for the eventual shipments of troops if it is established [Page 250] that other countries are not living up to their obligations. In this connection it is interesting to note that the Italian press is now publishing reports pointing toward French, Belgian and Russian infractions of nonintervention measures. The Minister for Foreign Ail airs was noncommittal in his reply to my inquiry in my last conversation with him as to whether he was satisfied with the control measures against volunteers for Spain.