500.A15A4 General Committee/631: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 13—12:45 p.m.]
739. 1. Soragna, the chief Italian delegate here, called this morning and I conveyed to him what had taken place yesterday (my 738) between Simon and myself and Nadolny. After I had outlined the views I expressed to Simon, Soragna stated that his Government was in the most cordial accord and that everything must be done to make the indispensable delay in rearmament of Germany as palatable to them as possible.
2. He then informed me that he had been in constant communication by telephone with Aloisi in Rome; that Aloisi had informed him that Mussolini was bringing such pressure as he could to bear on the Cabinet in Berlin and was working through the Italian Embassy in Berlin. Aloisi continued by stating that he hoped to learn of the results of their efforts late this afternoon at which time he would again call Soragna and the latter will convey the information to me. Soragna had just seen Simon, told him of this and expressed the hope that nothing would be said in the Bureau tomorrow which would make Germany’s position more difficult. In any case Soragna added the information which they hoped to receive from Berlin tonight should give us all some guidance as to how to handle the problem in the Bureau tomorrow.
3. I then turned to the delicate question of the Four Power Pact and told Soragna that it was essential that we travel closely together and this could only be done on the basis of mutual frankness; that as I saw the problem it was impossible to proceed with success in disarmament under this pact both because of the nervousness of Poland and Czechoslovakia in regard thereto and because if France is now facing trouble as she feels they will be particularly reluctant to do anything [Page 259] which alienates Poland and Czechoslovakia. Soragna said that he was not in touch with his Government’s views on this subject but that his own impression coincided with mine and he added that he could tell me that he knew of nothing that indicated that Mussolini now contemplated using the Four Power Pact in this connection.