793.94/6615
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)
The Italian Ambassador called to inform me that he was in receipt of a telegram from the Italian Ambassador in Tokyo to Rome reporting an interview which he had recently had with an official of the Japanese Foreign Office. The Italian Ambassador in Tokyo had apparently gone to the Foreign Office to ask the question whether the Amau statements represented in fact the attitude of the Foreign Office and received an answer in the affirmative; furthermore, the Ambassador had reported to Rome that, in his opinion, the Japanese Government were intent on carrying out the program announced with respect to China and that nothing now would stop them; it appears that he himself regarded the situation as extremely serious and had so reported to his Government; Mr. Rosso asked whether I could give him any information with regard to the attitude of this Government. I told him that we were gathering information, but had not reached any conclusion as to the position which we should take.