852.00/8076: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 13—2:05 p.m.]
143. My 135, June 6, 5 p.m. The Embassy has been reliably informed that Monsieur Badouin, a well-known French banker, has arrived unofficially in Rome in an effort to convince the Italians that the French Government has for all practical purposes closed all Pyrenees frontiers and also to ascertain whether it would not be possible to reopen the Franco-Italian negotiations. No publicity whatsoever is being given to this confidential mission of Monsieur Badouin who is also desirous of ascertaining the Italian preference regarding the person to be named as the French Ambassador.