File No. 600.119/430
The Ambassador in Italy ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.55 p.m.]
1141. Great Britain has requested Italy to cooperate with the Allies and us and prohibit all shipments to Scandinavian countries and Holland. I understand that Italian Government’s view is that shipments should be minimized but not absolutely forbidden, which they consider would throw those countries in arms of Germany. Attention was called to fact that Sweden has a new Government liberal and friendly to Allies. At present all exportation is forbidden unless specifically authorized by commission having charge of exportation, which they say permits no exportation of material useful to Central Empires.