852.00/5885a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Phillips)
116. [Here follows the substance of the first two paragraphs of telegram No. 265 of the same date, to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom, printed supra.] The succession of direct overt acts of the last few weeks has so greatly increased the intensity of the pressure on him21 to take such action, however, that I am strongly inclined to feel that at an early opportunity I should call in the German Ambassador and the Italian Chargé d’Affaires and in a spirit of friendly counsel inform them frankly that they should not assume that the understandable reluctance of the President to take action up to now by any means precludes the possibility that in the event of further overt acts the President may be compelled by the force of public opinion to extend to Germany and Italy the embargo on the export of arms at present applicable only to Spain. If after consideration I act [Page 346] on this feeling I shall inform you fully of my conversations with the German and Italian representatives in order that you may, if you feel it desirable and wise, bring my remarks to the attention of the Italian Government also in such oral and informal manner as you may deem appropriate and opportune. In the meantime I shall very greatly appreciate receiving your views and comments with regard to this proposed step.
- i. e., the President.↩