and ourselves into meeting Italy's demands but the situation 
      certainly needs careful watching. In this connexion there are 
      reports from sources that cannot be ignored that instead of risking 
      a major war by pressing her demands on France Italy might seek 
      cheap glory in annexation of Albania.
 
      
 
      
 
 
13.We still greatly doubt that Japan has come into line over 
      the anti-Comintern pact. On the contrary Japan's counter proposals 
      will only be submitted early next month for consideration by 
      the Germans and Italians. But this will of course not prevent 
      the three Powers playing into one another's hands as and when 
      it suits them to do so. The Japanese diplomats' meeting in Paris 
      last month attended by the Ambassadors from London, Rome, Brussels, 
      by the Minister from Berne and by the Secretaries only from Berlin 
      and Paris did not we think make the recommendation attributed 
      to them by the Under Secretary of State though quite possibly 
      the Ambassador from Rome in a minority of one made the recommendation 
      in the sense suggested.
 
      
 
 
BRITISH EMBASSY,
 
      WASHINGTON, D.C. 
 
      February 28th, 1939.