American under secretary of State visits M Laval in Paris . Mr William Phillips , American Under Secretary of State , who is in Paris during the adjournment of the London Naval Conference , visited M Laval French Premer , at the Foreign Office . It is believed he went as the secret representative of President Roosevelt who has just made an important announcement concearning the Italian oil embargo . Photo shows Mr William Phillips ( left ) with the United States Ambassador , Mr Jesse Tsidor Straus , at the American Embassy in Paris . 5 January 1936