711.652/143: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Phillips)
196. Your 523, December 18, noon. Although under our Constitution the President may by an executive agreement embodied in an exchange of notes promise reciprocal most-favored-nation treatment, the attempt to include in such an exchange general provisions going far beyond this would raise very serious questions both as to the constitutionality and expediency of such an agreement. Department is giving careful consideration to this problem, which will require considerable study before a definite conclusion can be reached. In my own personal view immediate negotiations such as suggested are therefore not practicable.