762.63/509: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy ( Phillips ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 10—3:30 p.m.]
55. My telegram No. 40, February 25, 6 p.m.43 I am informed by a reliable source that Colonel Beck, Polish Foreign Minister whose visit to Rome terminated today, had a 2-hour conversation last night with the Austrian Minister here. During that conversation Beck said that he and Ciano had come to an understanding whereby Poland at the earliest opportunity would intimate to Germany that Poland considered itself intimately associated with developments in Central Europe, particularly Austria and Czechoslovakia, and would express the hope that no brusque German action would be taken vis-à-vis either of those two powers, particularly Austria. Beck said that Ciano on his part affirmed that Italy at a slightly later date would make similar intimations.
Concerning the Austrian plebiscite announcement, the Austrian Minister here has stated to a source close to the Embassy that although he knew the move was “in the air” he did not learn of the definite decision until yesterday evening and was able to communicate it to the [Page 418] Italian Government only just before it was made public. He said that the Italian Government had expressed pleasure at Schuschnigg’s move.
Further report on both these subjects by mail.
- Not printed.↩