711.6512Anti-War/23: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Fletcher) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 2—8:55 a.m.]
42. Grandi has given me confidentially copy of the memorandum reply of the Italian Foreign Office to a memorandum of the British Ambassador, dated [April] 28th. The Italian memorandum is dated May 1st and states that in principle the Italian Foreign Office cannot help but consider with sympathy the American proposal of a multilateral anti-war treaty.
The Italian memorandum further states that, as it believes uniformity of view amongst the powers called upon to participate is indispensable, it agrees that a preliminary meeting of the legal experts of the said powers should be held. The Italian Foreign Office believes, however, that this meeting would not prove efficacious unless participaiion therein of a legal expert representing the Government of the United States were assured.
The Italian Foreign Office is also of the opinion that the conference of which Mr. Kellogg spoke to the British Ambassador in Washington could be held subsequently.
Repeated to London.