500.A19/105: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 4—12:15 p.m.]
262. During my conversation with Count Ciano yesterday afternoon I asked him whether he could give me any information as to the reaction of the press other than in the United States to the Simms interview reported in my 244, May 25, noon. Ciano replied that there had been no reaction whatsoever from London, Paris or Moscow. He seemed to have made up his mind that there was nothing further to be done in the circumstances. He referred to the leading article in the Populo d’Italia of May 30th, see my 254, May 31, 7 p.m., which he said represented the official views of the Government.
This morning in conversation with the British Ambassador he admitted that there had been no response from London and that any such response was difficult in view of the rearmament program from which there could be no withdrawal and the state of public opinion in England against Italy. However, he felt that it was still possible that his Government might find ways and means to express its sympathy with the general idea and personally he hoped that his Government would do so.