893.01/604: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 25—7 p.m.]
62. This morning I read to Ciano your views regarding the new “central” Chinese regime as contained in your 16, January 23, 6 p.m.54 and explained that I was doing so not in criticism of the Italian Government’s recent action but to point out to him the American Government’s position. Ciano explained his action along the following lines: Wang Ching Wei had been living for some time in an Italian Concession and had sent a telegram expressing his thanks to Ciano for Italian hospitality. The latter’s telegram to Wang was in reply to this first message and Wang’s published telegram was his reply to Ciano. It was at Wang’s request that both telegrams had been published. The Minister reminded me that he was now and at all times utterly opposed to communism, that Chiang Kai-shek was cooperating more and more with the Soviet Government, that Wang Ching Wei was strongly anti-Communist and that therefore the Italian Government could not but be sympathetic to his aspirations. Ciano believed that Wang’s support was gaining and with that of the Japanese Government he would eventually succeed in his undertaking. He emphasized that his own support of Wang should not be interpreted in any way whatsoever as anti-American and from his attitude I doubt whether it even occurred to him to give consideration to our position.
In reply to my inquiry as to what if any relationship he would have with the Chiang Kai-shek Government, he reminded me that the Italian Ambassador appointed a year and a half ago had never presented his letters in Chungking and that there was no Ambassador from Chiang Kai-shek in Rome.
[Page 278]The Department realizes that Italy’s interests in China are confined largely to the ports and as these are now under the control of Japan the Italian Government appears to have lost all interest in developing relations with Chiang Kai-shek.
I am inclined to believe that Ciano’s telegram was sent with a view to reenforcing Japan’s anti-Communist policy at home and in China and perhaps without giving much thought to the impression it would make upon other interested governments.
The Chinese Chargé informs me that he has received instructions from Chungking to prepare to leave Rome but to await final instructions before doing so as the matter is still under consideration by his Government.
- Not printed; it reported Department’s telegram No. 349, November 13, 1939, 8 p.m., to the Ambassador in Japan, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 34.↩