740.00119 Control (Italy)/11–1445
The Chargé in Italy (Key) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 23 (?).]
Sir: With reference to my despatch no. 2457 of October 15, 1945,18 and previous correspondence on conditions in Venezia Giulia, I have the honor to enclose herewith a report in three parts,18 prepared by the Local Government Sub-commission of the Allied Commission, on that portion of Venezia Giulia lying between the Morgan Line and the eastern boundary of Udine province. The report covers the following points: ethnic distribution; local feeling with regard to final disposal of area; and economic considerations and communication problem to be taken into account in disposal of area.
With regard to ethnic distribution, the report says that in general the population of the large cities is overwhelmingly Italian and that the Slovene population, being chiefly occupied in agriculture, inhabits the countryside and hinterland of the zone. Gorizia is the one large city where the population is about equally divided. As to movements of population, in the early days of Italian administration, Italian migration into the area was encouraged. On the other hand, on liberation [Page 1214] of the area by the Yugoslavs, a considerable number of persons of that nationality entered the zone and there is evidence that infiltration of Yugoslav nationals is still proceeding. Military operations, due to the war, have brought about considerable movement of the population, but the report does not believe that these movements have altered very considerably the total population or its division. Statistics quoted in report indicate the population in the area in question is predominantly Italian.
With regard to local feeling as to final disposal of the area, the report is careful to state that its findings are chiefly based on opinions formed as result of interviews with Allied Intelligence and Civil Affairs officers stationed in the large cities of the area. “It should be kept in mind furthermore,” continues the report, “that people in the entire area have been subjected to high pressure and propaganda … and that local feeling is not necessarily based on ethnic differences but to a large extent on economic or political differences … Much pro-Slav feeling has been induced by the fact that the Communist party in the area has identified itself with Tito and Yugoslavia, who have been portrayed as the soul of democratic protagonism.” However, viewing Venezia Giulia as a whole, according to the report, the majority of Slovenes desire to become part of Yugoslavia. They are definitely against incorporation into Italy, being mindful of former attempts to de-nationalize them.
“Italian opinion is still in a process of changing,” the report finds, “and is dependent on economic factors to a large extent and on nationalistic factors to a smaller extent. Fear of reprisals and extinction of their culture, influence a large portion to disfavor incorporation into Yugoslavia. The large urban middle class and majority of large farmers prefer some form of autonomy with British and American protection. The large working class and the small farming group favor incorporation into Yugoslavia or to a lesser degree, an autonomy under United Nations protection.”
“In the city of Trieste,” the report maintains, “sentiment of the Italian population is swayed principally by economic considerations. In Gorizia, the Italians and the middle class in general are definitely against incorporation into Yugoslavia. In Pola the Italian community which for the most part includes the business population of the city, is anti-Yugoslav and many thousands will leave if the area is turned over to Yugoslavia.”
The economic part of the report points out that the area is particularly important to Italy for its bauxite deposits, oil refineries, mercury, coal mines and fisheries and that the “establishment of an Italian [sic] frontier between Italy and the whole of Venezia Giulia [Page 1215] would entail a serious loss to Italy. On the other hand, there appears to be no economic justification for the retention by Italy of Fiume, Zara, or the Adriatic Islands.”
The section of the report on communications states that the telegraph and telephone facilities are owned by the Italian state and its concessionaries. In the event the territory is conceded to Yugoslavia there would be “the problem of compensating the companies for losses sustained in physical plant investment” as well as the problem of the employees, many of whom “probably would not wish to sever their connections with the companies and whose rights should be protected.”
Respectfully yours,