Office of the Historian

740.00119 Council/9–1745: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at London

Washington, September 17, 1945, 7 p.m.

8072. Secdel 67. During call today Ital Ambassador asked re press reports of decision at London on disposition of Ital colonies. I replied I had no info on this subject and could only wait word or statement from you. Ambassador went on to say that this was not most important matter. Most important in his judgment was decision to be made on Trieste. He felt that if both decisions were adverse to Italy repercussions would be great, Western democracies would receive brunt of criticism in Italy, and moderate parties there would suffer as consequence.

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Tarchiani added that on basis of talks with President and you before your departure he believed you understood and were sympathetic to Ital position on Trieste.54 I said that De Gasperi55 would doubtless have discussed matter with you but told Ambassador who seemed much disturbed that I would inform you of substance of our conversation.

Acheson
  1. No records of Tarchiani’s talks with the President and the Secretary of State have been found in Department files.↩
  2. Alcide de Gasperi, Italian Foreign Minister.↩