PAP                                     PARIS
This telegram must be
closely paraphrased be-                      Dated May 14, 1940
fore being communicated
to anyone. (D)                          Rec'd 5:25 p.m.
 
 
Secretary of State
 
     Washington
 
     RUSH
 
     657, May 14, 7 p.m. (SECTION THREE).
 
     Nearly every member of the French Government and many French senators have appealed
to me today to ask you to make a final effort to keep Italy from entering the war as Germany's
ally. Telegrams from the French Ambassador in Rome today report that the Italian press is filled
with praise of the American Government and its friendly gesture in eliminatig certain duties on
Italian goods. Poncet reports that this is being interpreted to mean that the Government of the
United States approves of Mussolini's present policies. Since you have handed Mussolini a carrot
of this variety I trust that you have not forgotten the club.
     The suggestions that have been made to me are the following:
     (One) That the most powerful weapon to employ against Mussolini would be  a statement
by the  Pope based on purely spiritual grounds denouncing the barbarities which Germany has
inflicted on the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg.
 
 
                              BULLITT
 
NPL