500.A15a3/1379: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Garrett) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 28—5:40 p.m.]
29. Following communiqué issued this afternoon:
“As a result of the friendly conversations which have taken place in a spirit of cordial collaboration between the Chief of the Italian Government, Signor Grandi,79 and Signor Sirianni80 and Mr. Henderson and Mr. Alexander, agreement has been reached in principle on questions left outstanding at the London Naval Conference.
The terms of the proposed agreement have still to be submitted to the French Government and Mr. Henderson and Mr. Alexander are proceeding to Paris for this purpose.
Should the French Government agree, the proposals will then be submitted to the Governments of the United States, Japan, Great Britain, and the British Dominions who were represented at the London Naval Conference.”
[Paraphrase.] Mr. Henderson asked the British Ambassador to give out absolutely nothing but the above communiqué even to myself [Page 371] and the French Ambassador. However, from a completely trustworthy source I have learned that there is a complete feeling that the Henderson-Alexander mission, after an all-day session yesterday and telephonic conversation with the French Foreign Office until last midnight, has succeeded. Italy has accepted everything except one question which still remains to be settled. Italy proposes to keep some 5,000 tons of over-age and non-replaceable submarines to bring her paper figures up to British, American, and Japanese levels. Henderson has promised to cable complete details from Paris to the British Embassy at Washington for your information. Brussels, Berne, London, and Paris are informed. [End paraphrase.]