793.94 Conference/48: Telegram

The Chargé in Italy ( Reed ) to the Secretary of State

444. My No. 441, October 14, 6 p.m. I was told at the Foreign Office today that the Italian Government had received two invitations to the proposed Nine Power Conference, one from the Agha Khan8 and on Saturday last one from the Belgian Government. The Italian Government will probably not acknowledge the receipt of the first invitation as in its opinion the Nine Power Treaty is not a proper concern of the League of Nations. To the Belgian Government’s invitation, however, the Italian Government is giving its very careful and sympathetic consideration. My informant stated that no definite decision would be taken until his Government had ascertained Japan’s intentions in the matter but even if Japan rejected the invitation he thought it very likely that the Italian Government would attend the Conference if for no other reason than to point out to the other nations there represented the impossibility, in the absence of Japanese participation, of accomplishing anything useful or practical. I was also told that both the Belgian and British Governments had furnished assurances that arrangements would be made as soon as the Conference convened to invite the German and Soviet Governments to participate in the deliberations.

Reed
  1. Indian representative to the League Assembly at Geneva.