500.A15a3/1226: Telegram

The Ambassador in Italy (Garrett) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

105. From Gibson. Last night the British Ambassador said that Grandi had told him that your suggested method of solution seemed to be less advantageous for Italy than it was for France. You will remember Grandi’s great deliberation in the assimilation of new ideas. His attitude in this instance may not be taken, perhaps, as final.

The Italian press comment so far has been more favorable than that which has been telegraphed from Paris.

Grandi told the French Ambassador that he had not reported his conversation with me to Mussolini before I called on the Duce.

The French Ambassador has gone to Paris. It is our impression, which is confirmed by that of the British Ambassador here, that Beaumarchais is so filled with pessimism over possibility of achieving any agreement with Italians that he will be a wet blanket on present hopeful situation in Paris.

Garrett