Lord Perth's retirement next week may raise one rather acute
diplomatic problem. Whenever a new Ambassador to Italy is appointed the question of recognising Italy's various illicit acquisitions is involved. France left her Embassy at Rome without a head for more than a year before she could bring herself to accredit him to the King of Italy and Emperor of Ethiopia. We have swallowed the swallowing of Ethiopia, but a larger mouthful has to be negotiated now. Lord Halifax holds, and has expressed, strong views on the Good Friday crime. Is he ready to accredit Sir Percy Loraine to the King of Italy and Albania and the Emperor of Ethiopia? Count Ciano will no doubt be highly gratified if he is. And to leave the Embassy under a chargé d'affaires at this juncture is not satisfactory—though that is what is happening at Berlin.
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