1 II NT OF STATE ^ WASHINGTON \V June 4, 1940 Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency's note no. 234 of May 27, 1940, inquiring whether the Government of the United States, which at the request of the British Government has already taken over the representation of British interests in Germany and in certain German-occupied territories, would agree to under- take the protection of British persons, property and interests in Italy should hostilities break out between the United Kingdom and Italy. I am happy to assure you of this Government's will- ingness to assume the protection of British interests in Italy in the contingency you mention- Instructions to this effect have been sent to the American Embassy at Rome His Excellency The Right Honorable The Marquess of Lothian, C. H., British Ambassador, Rome, and every appropriate effort will be made to extend to British nationals and interests suoh protection as may- be possible within the limitations of and subject to the reservations imposed by the circumstances of modern war- fare. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. 704.4165/6 I 11