740.0011 European War 1939/3710
The Italian Ambassador (Colonna) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary of State: Under instructions from my Government I have the honor to bring what follows to your knowledge.
On the 10th of June 1940 at 4:30 P.M. the Minister of Foreign Affairs Count Galeazzo Ciano received at the Chigi Palace the French Ambassador and made to him the following communication:
“His Majesty the King and Emperor declares that Italy considers herself in a state of war with France beginning tomorrow, June 11th, at 4:45 P.M.
Count Ciano asked the British Ambassador to call and made to him in identical terms the communication that Italy considers herself in a state of war with Great Britain.
Accept [etc.]
[For a review by President Roosevelt of his efforts to keep Italy out of the war, see text of his address given at Charlottesville, Virginia, June 10, 1940, in Department of State Bulletin, June 15, 1940, page 635.]