793.94/9085: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—4:55 p.m.]
353. My 347, July 24, 1 p.m. During my conversation with Count Ciano this afternoon I asked for information with regard to the Far Eastern situation. He said that a telegram had just been received from Peiping to the effect that all of the Italian residents in Peiping, some 35 in number, had been assembled in the Italian Embassy. He was confident that there would be no declaration of war on the part of the Chinese Government for obvious reasons. He had already instructed the Italian Ambassadors in Tokyo and in Nanking to urge the respective Governments to adopt peaceful measures and at the same time he had offered the services of the Italian Government “in mediation” if that would be of help in the present situation.