740.00119 EW/6–2545
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of War (Stimson)99
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The British Government has proposed an exchange of views regarding desiderata for the treaty of peace with Italy which they suggest should be negotiated separately from “the general settlement with Germany. Accordingly plans are being made for a draft embodying the views of the Government of the United States for the treaty with Italy. This draft, which is being composed under the general supervision of the Department’s Inter-Divisional Committee on Italy, will at the outset embrace the sections listed in the enclosed tentative outline of Treaty of Peace with Italy (Tab to Annex).1
The general policy of this Government is to assist and encourage the conversion of Italy into a stable, peaceful, and constructive element [Page 1009] among the nations of Europe. The United States repudiates the theory of economic and political spheres of influence. We do not wish Italy to be under the predominant influence of any single power, but to be politically and economically independent. Like other powers of her rank, Italy should be encouraged to look primarily to the International Security Organization for her security in the future. For the immediate post-war period it is our aim to impose only such restrictions on Italy as are necessary to safeguard other countries from Italian aggression; but, in order that Italy may have a genuine independence, that country should not be so reduced in its defensive forces as to invite aggression or diplomatic blackmail on the part of its neighbors. The general formula is therefore “partial disarmament with permission of limited forces.”
May I request you to appoint an appropriate officer or committee to draft the articles for the treaty with Italy which would fulfil the general objectives stated above, and which would embrace the military aviation clauses for Part VI of the general draft and also for Part VII dealing with the subject of Prisoners of War and Graves.
Part X of the draft, dealing with economic matters, is being drafted by the economic divisions of the Department of State. Insofar as economic restrictions are essential for achieving the aim of partial disarmament, the Apartment would appreciate receiving appropriate suggestions for drafting the pertinent clauses of Part X.
It is our aim to have a general draft completed within the next thirty days. May I request that as soon as your drafts for parts VI and VII and for the relevant clauses of part X be completed you appoint the chief drafting officer or officers to act as a reporting committee to present these drafts to the Inter-Divisional Committee on Italy for discussion and incorporation into the general draft of the treaty. It would greatly facilitate our task if you could shortly inform me approximately when the drafts of the parts mentioned above will be completed.
Sincerely yours,