FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1934, VOLUME III



  "In authorized circles it is learned that the Italian Government
has decided to raise its diplomatic representation in China to rank of
Embassy in order to make it correspond with the importance of China
as a great power and with the importance of the political, economic
and cultural relations between Italy and China. ["]
                                                             LONG

701.6593/18a: Telegram
    The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)79

                          WASHINGTON, September 27, 1934-4 p. m.
  311. 1. On September 25 the First Secretary of the Italian Em-
bassy called at the Department and stated that he was under instruc-
tion from his Foreign Office to inform us in confidence that the Italian
Government had decided to raise its legation in Peiping to the grade
of embassy. He said that no reasons or explanation were given. To
inquiry whether his Government was informing other governments
most concerned, the First Secretary replied that he assumed so. The
Chief of the Far Eastern Division made comment to the effect that
the Chinese have frequently requested of various governments this
move and governments most concerned have conferred inter se;
Italian Embassy has several times previously discussed such requests
with the Department; and there has been an informal working under-
standing among the various foreign offices that if any government
seriously contemplated taking this step it would first consult with the
others.
  2. Under date September 26 the Ambassador at Rome telegraphed
that the undoubted real reason for the decision of the Italian Govern-
ment is the influence of Ciano, at present Italian Under Secretary for
Press and Propaganda, whose pro-Chinese sympathies are outspoken;
that Ciano's attitude and influence and his intimacy with Chang
Hsueh-liang probably had a direct bearing upon the friendly reception
accorded in Italy to the Chinese Aviation Commission and upon
Italian activity in China in aviation matters; and that in addition to
this personnel factor there is the background of Italy's opposition
to Japan based on Japanese aggression in the Far East and Japan's
economic penetration in markets throughout the world where Italy
competes.
  3. The Department is informed that the press in Italy has carried
items in regard to the Italian Government's decision with favorable
comment thereon.
4. Repeat to Nanking and Tokyo as Dep[artmen]t's 35 and 167
respectively.
                                                            HuAL



To See last paragraph for instructions to repeat to Nanking and Tokyo as
Department's Nos. 35 and 167, respectively.



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