852.00/5953
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Ambassador of Italy26 called at his own request.…
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The Ambassador made very little further comment, except to agree in principle on all that I was saying about the economic situation and the desire for peace.
He then said that his Government requested him to say to this Government that Italy has no purpose whatever to occupy Spanish territory in any event and is only concerned in that respect to see that a Communist government does not prevail in Spain. He then added that his Government strongly favored recognition of belligerent rights of General Franco’s organization, not recognition of the Franco organization as a government as Italy and Germany had recognized it. His theory seemed to be that recognition of belligerency by all the nations would clarify and serve to solve the present important differences relative to the Spanish situation. He emphasized the point as stated that Italy continues to adhere to the non-intervention pact along with the other 26 governments signatory to it. I thanked him for the information and expressed the hope that the interested nations in Europe would find ways to compose every difference; that, as indicated, this country has a rather definite and inflexible neutrality act, and that, of course, with our variety of population some people at all times are urging us to take steps; that naturally we have been assuming that none of the many governments interested will be disposed to indulge in such official utterances or acts as would raise the question of placing it in operation. The Ambassador said, “I observe that you are not operating the embargo provisions”, to which I replied that this is upon the assumption, as just stated, that no other government will engage in such official acts as would aggravate or complicate the situation any further in so far as it would relate to our neutrality law.
The Ambassador made no further comment on this particular phase. He then proceeded to say that his Government would be flexible in its attitude in conference with other governments, and that it was the purpose of his Government, while going as far in dealing with a given phase as was deemed necessary or advisable, to stop short of action which might be calculated to provoke violence or hostility with another country or countries.
- Fulvio Suvich.↩