852.00/5890: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 1—5:32 p.m.]
308. Your 116, June 30, noon. My views briefly are as follows: Italy maintains that she has been forced to concern herself with the Spanish situation because of the original action of Soviet Russia in seeking to communize Spain with the consequent menace to established systems in neighboring countries particularly on the Mediterranean and accordingly has recognized the Franco government as the established government in Spain. Furthermore Italy has taken the stand that owing to the activities of England, France and Russia in the first line and of other countries to a lesser extent in assisting the Valencia forces, she has been justified in lending assistance to the Franco faction. Therefore any action on the part of a neutral state such as the United States, taken with regard to one group of powers such as Italy and Germany would in my opinion be considered by those countries as a manifestation of partisanship and probably as a non-neutral act.
With these considerations in mind I submit that if you feel the necessity of giving counsel to the representatives of Italy and Germany it might be wise to give similar counsel to the representatives of Russia, England and France as well as of any other countries whose activities, direct or implied, have linked them with the Spanish conflict. Certainly Italy would keenly resent any step directed solely against her at London unless similar action was taken against all other countries believed to have lent notable assistance to Valencia.
Furthermore, should the Department declare that a state of war does exist between Italy and Spain it might force other countries to do the very things which it must be assumed that they have been united in their efforts to avoid, namely, to spread the conflict beyond the Spanish frontier. The Non-intervention Committee has been set up to deal with the problem and while it functions I do not think it would be wise for us to inject ourselves into the picture and thus create a wholly new situation.
[Page 347]It is very possible that the time may come when a general appeal in the interest of peace might be of help but I do not advise any step of a special nature such as addressing representations or taking action with regard to one particular group of governments and thereby injecting new issues and considerations into a situation already surcharged. I feel however that any occasion might well be taken to impress upon the representatives of any governments, whose activities may be regarded as linked with the Spanish conflict, your views as to the grave menace to peace inherent in the prolongation of that conflict and the intention of the United States to give positive effect to its neutrality in the face of any eventualities.