852.00/6580: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 30—5:44 p.m.]
1368. The French, British and Italian naval experts signed an agreement this morning modifying the patrol zones in the Mediterranean as established under the Nyon accords. This agreement has been signed ad referendum and must be approved by the three Governments and also submitted for approval to the other signatories of the Nyon accords. The French and British Governments, however, have been kept fully informed of the negotiations and approve of the agreement and Delbos in Geneva has been sounding out the representatives of the other signatory powers in order to attempt to avoid putting anything into the agreement which would be refused by any of them. Mussolini, due to his absence in Germany, has probably not been kept so fully informed and therefore the adherence of the Italian Government is not so certain as that of the French and British. We are told from British and French sources that the Italian delegation cooperated well in the discussions.
The meetings were attended only by technical experts, nobody from the Foreign Office or the British or Italian Embassies being present.
The agreement according to the communiqué from the Ministry of Marine was supposed to have been signed yesterday. There are [Page 408] rumors that the postponement was due to an intervention by the Soviets or to difficulties raised by the Italians. As far as I have been able to ascertain these rumors are unfounded and the delay was caused by the necessity of getting in touch with Delbos in Geneva late yesterday.
While information is not yet available as to the text of the agreement we understand on reliable authority that the Italians are given patrol duty in the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian and also an area off the coasts of Sicily and Sardinia.
Copies to London and Rome.