Summary — The Italian refusal to take part in the International Conference in Geneva on naval armament limitation wished by Mr Coolidge in 1926 - despite Italy and France’s absence had already contributed to the failure of the Conference itself - didn’t bring prejudice to the Italian American relationships, which from the coming to power of the Republicans in 1920 were marked by a spirit of cooperation and under-standing.

The wish of not compromising the entente with the US, the support of which granted Italy a greater freedom of action with regard to Great Britain and France, suggested Mussolini to put aside his prejudices against pacifism and to give up, for the moment, to his revisionism accepting to subscribe a multilateral agreement of rejection of war as a means of resolution of the international disputes which the American Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg had turned into the original proposal of a French American agreement suggested by the French Minister for Foreign Affairs Aristide Briand.

Italy’ adhesion granted without reservations and negotiations and Mussolini and Grandi’s refusal to go to Paris to sign the agreement, seem to emphasize the scarse relevance annexed to the Pact itself by the Italians. However, although not believing to the effectiveness of the agreement, Mussolini didn’t miss the occasion for pleasing the American government and confirming on the international plan his position as a great power.

Mussolini acceptance, beside affecting the good relationships between Italy and the US, in fact contributed to credit Mussolini’s image as international statesman and peace champion.