765.84/499a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham)46
175. On July 5, the day our reply to the Emperor of Ethiopia was sent, the Italian Ambassador called at the Department and obtained a copy of our note. Yesterday I asked the Ambassador to come to the Department and informed him of our impressions of the Italo-Ethiopian situation in the following sense:
Although we are not familiar with the facts or the merits of the questions at issue between Italy and Ethiopia, we are deeply interested in the preservation of peace in all parts of the world and we are particularly interested in those international arrangements designed to effect the solution of controversies by peaceable means.
Being convinced that world progress and economic recovery are urgently in need of peaceful conditions, particularly at this time, we felt impelled to impress upon the Italian Ambassador our increasing concern over the situation arising out of Italy’s dispute with Ethiopia and our earnest hope that a means may be found to arrive at a peaceful and mutually satisfactory solution of the problem.
I would suggest that you arrange an appointment with Sir Samuel Hoare and inform him orally and confidentially of the above. You may also say that you feel sure that he will realize from the close attention we are giving to this matter our deep concern over the rapidly advancing developments in this situation. Please give me a report of your conversation with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
- The same, mutatis mutandis, July 11, to the Ambassador in France as telegram No. 270; a similar telegram, omitting the last paragraph, was sent to the Ambassador in Italy as No. 112, July 10, 6 p.m.↩