765.94/152: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
Rome, April 5,
1941—6 p.m.
[Received 7:40 p.m.]
[Received 7:40 p.m.]
[469.] Embassy’s 456 and 457, April 4.42 I have learned on the best authority that during his conversations with the Pope and the [Page 931] Cardinal Secretary of State Matsuoka stressed the following points: (1) In China, Japan was conducting a campaign against communism, not a war against the Chinese people, (2) an extension and prolongation of the European war could only favor the cause of communism, (3) Japan had no desire to be drawn into this war.
Repeated to Berlin.
Phillips
- Neither printed.↩